China has met its commitment to the World Trade Organization (WTO) to open its publication distribution and printing sectors to foreign enterprises, an official said on Thursday.

Liu Binjie, vice director of the State Press and Publication Administration said although the Chinese government prohibits foreign enterprises from being the sole publisher of their own books in China, the distribution of approved books and publications is fully open to foreign and domestic enterprises in China.

He said the Chinese government has ratified 38 overseas-invested publication distribution enterprises to operate in China and 14 of them are entitled to wholesale distribution rights.

"Enterprises with exclusive ownership, joint venture and share holder enterprises are all allowed to operate in the publication and distribution sector, " said Liu.

He also said the Chinese government has currently approved more than 2,000 printing enterprises with exclusive foreign ownership or jointly invested by overseas and domestic capital to run businesses in China.

(Xinhua News Agency September 14, 2006)