B&R Academic Publishing Alliance launched in Beijing

The launch ceremony of the Belt and Road (B&R) Academic Publishing Alliance was held at Renmin University of China on Aug. 24, attended by close to 100 representatives of 56 publishing agencies from 22 countries.

The publishing alliance aims to carry forward the legacy of the ancient Silk Road by building a platform for mutual learning and mutual benefit. The platform will facilitate resources sharing of authors, translation work, marketing efforts, copyright information and training among alliance members.

Joined by multinational academic and publishing agencies, the alliance is an academic publishing organization launched by the China Renmin University Press under the guidance of the State Council Information Office (SCIO), the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television (SAPPRFT) and the Ministry of Education of China. So far, a total of 92 publishers, academic institutions and professional groups from 29 countries including China, India, Mongolia, Egypt, Lebanon, Poland, Nepal, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan have joined the alliance.

Cui Yuying, deputy head of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and vice minister of the SCIO, gave a speech at the launch ceremony and said the alliance is a direct result of implementing the B&R Initiative. She said her office will, as always, attach importance to and support the exchanges and cooperation on academic publishing between China and B&R countries and the rest of the world as well.

Wu Shangzhi, deputy director of the SAPPRFT, asked the alliance to perform well in the following three aspects. First, the alliance should improve its operation mechanism to make substantial achievements as soon as possible. Second, centering on the B&R Initiative, the alliance should focus on key sectors and pool academic strengths in a bid to launch a number of original academic works with international influence. The third is to enhance cooperation within the alliance and forge it into a new think tank serving the B&R Initiative.

Azamat Usenov, ambassador of the Kyrgyz Republic to China, extended his congratulations to the establishment of the alliance. He also promised to offer help and support for the connectivity between the alliance and its counterparts in Kyrgyzstan. The ambassador said he hoped academic publishing organizations in his country would take an active part in the cooperation with the alliance on publishing.