The recent London Book Fair has attracted China's national and provincial publishers alongside the heavyweights.

Thirty-three publishing houses from nine provinces and municipalities that include Beijing, Jiangxi and Henan brought about 1,000 new titles to London.

Their stay was organized by their London-based partners and by China Universal Press and Publication, based in Beijing.

Activities included meeting and debating with Chinese and foreign experts on topics such as how to promote a better understanding of China, Chinese culture and China's Belt and Road Initiative.

Professor Wang Jihui of Peking University and Andrew Wheatcroft, visiting professor at London's City University, on April 12 discussed Sino-UK cooperation in the field of drama and literature translation, while recalling this year's 400th anniversaries of the deaths of China and England's most famous playwights - Tang Xianzhu and William Shakespeare.

China Social Sciences Press, meanwhile, launched books on the theme of understanding China, with topics ranging from China's political and economic systems to social evolution, reform, and social welfare policies.

Zhao Jianying, editor-in-chief of China Social Sciences Press says China has made tremendous progress in recent decades thanks to reforms and greater openness. Yet many Western mainstream professionals and others still lacked a basic knowledge of China's history and development.

"And it is even harder for them to know the logic behind China's development theories, its political and economic systems, Chinese civilization and its unique contribution to human progress," Zhao says.