HAIKOU /China/, September 27. /TASS/. The large-scale 14th China International Digital Publishing Expo on Hainan Island has become a stimulus for the realization of promising innovative projects, including in the field of animation, the Nanguo Metropolis Daily reported.

The Japanese company Chuo Keizai-Sha Inc. plans to develop joint programs with the People's Republic of China. South Korean, Italian, German, Dutch and Malaysian companies showed great interest in the Chinese market. Exhibitors discussed in detail opportunities for expanding and deepening cooperation, prospects for joint events and commercialization of successful digital products.

One of the key issues that attracted the attention of Expo guests was Artificial Intelligence. Its growing influence on the publishing industry has created different points of view on the methods and features of implementing these technologies.

The event provided an opportunity to showcase digital innovations from around the world. Chinese publishers presented their developments, many of which were of interest to potential foreign partners. Experts invited to the exhibition emphasized the promotion of cross-border projects. They pointed out a number of advantages of the Hainan Free Trade Port for the development of the digital publishing industry, calling it a "fertile ground for cultural exchanges".

The Expo is expected to increase the visibility of foreign online literature in the PRC, and Chinese works will become more popular in other countries. In addition, Hainan will be able to attract more headquarters and representative offices of digitization-related organizations.

Digital publishing in China

According to official statistics, China's digital publishing industry exceeded 1.6 trillion yuan (over $228 billion) in 2023, growing by about 19%. The number of e-literature readers in the country reached 537 million, setting a historical record. The overseas market of Chinese online literature reached 4 billion yuan (about $570 million), covering more than 200 countries and regions.

The 14th China International Digital Publishing Expo was held in Haikou, the administrative center of South China's Hainan Province, from September 21 to 23.