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)