You are viewing your 1 free article this month. Login to read more articles.
CCBF to strengthen partnership with LBF
The Chinese government official behind the Shanghai Children’s Book Fair (CCBF) has said he is committed to co-operating with the team behind the London Book Fair (LBF), with further events in China under consideration.
Kan Ning Hui, whose official title is deputy director of the Shanghai Press & Publication Administration, told The Bookseller: “To make CCBF more open internationally we are thinking of working with book fairs and organisations all over the world. We are planning new co-operative projects with the London Book Fair, including a new project in China.”
The LBF team had a stand at CCBF this year and hosted a seminar on transmedia, with speakers from Nosy Crow, Penguin Random House and Walker Books.
Jacks Thomas, director of the London Book Fair, confirmed that she is "looking forward to organising many more such events," adding: "The China Children’s Book Fair is a fantastic example of the appetite for innovation that the vast Chinese market presents to publishers."
Kan said this year’s CCBF exceeded his expectations. “The internationalism is at a very high level, and what makes me especially delighted is that everyone involved has conducted an unprecedented number of exchanges.”
He said China is the largest children’s book market in the world and that the country’s parents and teachers now understand the importance of children choosing their own books to read. “We should help children receive knowledge in the way they like, not the way their parents like.”
The third day of the fair is open to general public and the organisers encouraged the children to get involved with the stands. “We have made it so children can experience and interact with our facilities and touch the literary products,” said Kan. “If one day we could turn the book fair into a carnival for children, we will have succeeded.”
This year 6,681 professional visitors attended the fair, up from around 4,000 last year. CCBF 2015 is provisionally set for the 13th to 15th November. Both CCBF and LBF are organised by Reed Exhibitions, CCBF in partnership with the Chinese government.
