A center for exchanging publications across the Taiwan Straits was established in Beijing in August, the center announced at a news conference Thursday.

The center, aiming to promote cross-Straits exchange, cooperation and development of the publishing industries on both sides, is a non-governmental institution, with its office located in the Beijing-based Jiuzhou Publishing House, which was established in 1993.

The central job of the center is to enhance information exchange and copyright trade, promote both sides of the Straits to share good publications and develop cooperative items for publishing industries of the two sides.

The center will also offer related services between the mainland and Taiwan, especially on the mainland's policies, regulations and information on publication for publishers in Taiwan.

"The center can play an important role in promoting the exchange and cooperation of publishers across the Straits and making a closer relationship between the two sides," said Zhang Mingqing, assistant director of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council.

Xu Shangding, head of the center, said only if they complement their advantages can the publishing industries across the Straits, even the worldwide Chinese publishing markets, resist the impact brought by the two sides' entry into the World Trade Organization.

(People's Daily September 19, 2003)