Minister of the State Council Information Office Zhao Qizheng
delivered a speech at the Opening Ceremony of China
International Book Online Expo on August 8, 2003. The full
text of his speech follows:
Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Friends,
On the occasion of the opening ceremony of China International
Book Online Expo, I would like to extend warm congratulations to
the commencement of the online expo on behalf of the State Council
Information Office. I would also like to take this opportunity to
send my greetings and respect to domestic and overseas publishers
and online visitors, who are participating in or visiting the
online expo. I want to express my sincere gratitude to our friends
from media corps for your help and support.
“A bosom friend afar brings a distant land near.” The rich
imagination that ancient Chinese literati had has come true today
in this cyber era and information age. Though we may be separated
geographically, we can meet from time to time through Internet.
This has become a motto of this online expo, which reads: “To know
China better by coming across time and space; to make friends among
publishers through the media of books.” It is expected that people
may find this book fair more efficient and more interesting because
of the miraculous function of Internet.
I’m pleased to know that the online expo provides for domestic
and overseas publishers and distributors an e-business platform, on
which they may conduct online copyright trading, books selling and
promoting, as well as business image building. Obviously, the
online platform provides a much bigger space where customers both
domestic and overseas can search what they seek or purchase what
they like in a new quick and convenient way. By so doing, we will
fill the gaps in information sharing and exchanging in book
publishing and distribution throughout the world. I do hope our
friends in the business of book publishing and distribution may
benefit a lot from the expo.
As the first endeavor of its kind in China, the online expo is a
significant event, which will surely contribute to cultural
exchange and international cooperation between Chinese and foreign
businesses. My hope is that the online book fair is well designed
and managed, thus providing customers with a permanent business
platform featuring good service and efficient tools to exchange
both products and ideas.
With joint efforts and cooperation, I believe the China
International Book Online Expo will be a great success.
Thank you.
(China.org.cn August 8, 2003)