China's cultural industry was given a boost on Thursday following the government's plan to deepen cultural reform.

The reform will expand to more than 20 provincial areas from the original nine three years ago, according to a national conference on reforming the cultural system.

Experts say further reform is expected to bolster the competitiveness of Chinese cultural products in the world market, as China is witnessing an unfavorable balance of trade in the cultural industry.

"Despite the favorable trade surplus China has enjoyed for many years, the country has continuously suffered from a huge 'deficit' in terms of cultural products," said Zhao Qizheng, former head of the State Council Information Office and current dean of School of Journalism of the People's University of China.

Citing Customs statistics, Zhao said for many years, China's book exports accounted for merely one tenth of book imports, and the deficit ratio reached one hundredth between China and Europe and the United States.

Chen Shaofeng, vice director of the Research Institute of Chinese Culture Industry of Beijing University, said the unfavorable competitive power of Chinese cultural products explains the deficit.

"Further cultural reform is necessary," he said.

Senior Chinese official Li Changchun has placed an emphasis on the innovative capacity in such reform.

"An all-sided progress, including the cultural concept, content, form and technology, must be achieved, with cultural companies with capacities for independent innovation, famous brands and proprietary intellectual property rights developed," he said.

(Xinhua News Agency March 31, 2006)