Book deal at start of London event is a sign of China's growing influence and its closer relationship with UK

Beijing-based publisher New World Press and its British partner Global China Press have signed a deal to publish 15 books on topics ranging from China's governance structure to Sino-European relations to how outside experts view Chinese theater.

The agreement was signed on April 12 at the start of the three-day London Book Fair. More than 100 countries attended the event, which attracted more than 40 Chinese publishing houses and printing works.

"To achieve a better understanding of China, we are taking urgent action to negotiate with partners worldwide to publish China-themed books in an effort to update foreign readers with the latest developments in the country and introduce Chinese culture," says Fang Zhenghui, vice-president of China International Publishing Group, of which New World Press is a subsidiary.

At the fair, Global China Press, China International Publishing Group and New World Press launched English and Chinese versions of China's Urbanization: Migration by the Million. The book is edited by Xie Chuntao, professor of the Party School of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China. The launch marked the debut of the China Urbanization Studies series, a joint project to explore the stories behind China's impressive urbanization.

China International Publishing Group and New World Press also launched an English version of The Belt and Road Initiative: What Will China Offer the World in Its Rise, written by Wang Yiwei, professor at Renmin University of China.

Publishers from China and the United Kingdom also marked the 400th anniversary this month of the deaths of playwrights Tang Xianzu and William Shakespeare.

A specially commissioned Chinese play combining Tang's Peony Pavilion and Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet was performed in Chinese and English on the opening day.

Performances were at a space based on Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, set up at the Olympia exhibition center in London. Shakespearean actors from around the world performed extracts of works in six languages - Chinese, Spanish, Polish, Hindi, Arabic and English - in recognition of Shakespeare's global influence.

Celebrating its 45th anniversary, the London Book Fair is a global marketplace for the negotiation of rights, sales and distribution of content across print, audio, TV, film and digital channels.

Wang Jihui, a professor of English at Peking University, says the two legendary writers can help people to understand both countries' civilizations.

Wang also says there is a shortage of understanding and cultural exchanges between China and the West, and urged the latter to take a more active approach, particularly in view of a China-UK commitment to strengthen their partnership.

fujing@chinadaily.com.cn