Because of these arduous efforts, China has annually exported 200 million yuan worth audio and video products in recent years to the United States, Canada, Japan, Republic of Korea, and Southeast Asian countries. There have emerged a number of enterprises that have an annual export value exceeding 10 million yuan respectively. In less than two years, Chinese businesses exported more than 100 million yuan audio and video products to the United States.

Chinese movies and television programs have continually expanded their shares and impacts on the overseas markets. Some outstanding homemade movies and television programs have successfully edged into the mainstream markets in the overseas. The overall incomes of movies and television programs have increased year by year, leaving admirable social and economic benefits. Each year, some homemade blockbusters will be admitted to mainstream commercial cinemas across the world. According to incomplete statistics, China’s movie and television program exports were valued at 2.1 billion yuan in 2007. They climbed to nearly 3 billion yuan in 2008, including 2.528 billion yuan from homemade ones. The marketing network for Chinese movie and television products have covered nearly 100 countries and regions in Asia, Europe, Australia, America and Africa.

China has gradually improved its copyright trade structure by narrowing the proportion of copyright import and export from 15:1 in 1997 to 5:1 in 2007. It annually exports 7.3 million books to double the amount of imported books. It annually exports 4 million copies of newspaper and periodicals to 80 countries and regions, keeping an annual growth rate of 62.4%. In this way, it has transformed the Chinese publication industry from import-oriented to export-oriented performances. The press and publication industry has growingly diversified modes of cooperating with foreign partners. China Publishing Group, China International Press Group Limited, People’s Medical Publishing House, and China Youth Press have set up branches in Europe and the United States, engaging in publication business. (Since 2005, China has worked with France, Russia, Germany and Republic of Korea to sponsor book exhibitions in each other’s country). They have forcefully promoted exchanges and cooperation between Chinese and foreign publication industries, and stimulated Chinese publishers to implement the Go Global strategy.

Booming Chinese Cultural Undertakings

China has accelerated domestic cultural undertakings, which contributes to constructing a harmonious society. Since the 1990s, in order to flourish the Chinese cultural undertakings, enrich exchange contents, and actively introduce outstanding cultures, China has successively sponsored a number of international art-themed year activities, which are separated into the International Symphony Music Year, International Song & Dance Year, and International Fine Arts Year. It has introduced globally first-class elegant cultural products from over 20 countries, evoking great responses at home and abroad, and creating favorable social environments for reform and opening up.

Internationally renowned art troupes, such as the former Soviet Union Circus, Boston Symphony Orchestra of the United States, Paris Opera Ballet of France, and world famous artists including Herbert von Karajan, Yehudi Menuhin, Pavarotti, and Domingo, have successfully presented performances in China. Chinese audiences could finally appreciate classic and modern ballet, folk dances and operas from other parts of the world, and enjoy internationally famous symphony orchestras to perform masterpieces of music masters in their own land. These introduced projects have enhanced mutual understanding between China and the other parts of the world, greatly enriched Chinese socialist cultures, and further promoted the formation and development of Chinese cultural market. Non-governmental cultural exchanges have made great strides and displayed formidable vitality. They have become emerging power in China’s cultural exchanges with foreign countries.