Summary
On 22 October 2026, the 2024–2025 'Shanghai Good Books' exhibition opened at Kinokuniya Bookstore in Sydney, Australia, jointly presented by the Shanghai Book Trade Association and China National Publications Import & Export (Group) Corporation Shanghai. More than 100 titles suitable for local readers were selected across theme publishing, humanities and social sciences, literature and art, children's books, and popular science, showcasing Shanghai's latest publishing achievements. Kinokuniya Sydney is Australia's largest multicultural bookstore.
The exhibition displayed recommended titles from recent 'Shanghai Good Books' award winners, with purchase options available online. During the event, the Shanghai publishing delegation held discussions with bookstore management and local publishing peers on book imports, copyright cooperation, and cultural promotion. Following last year's exhibition, orders for literature and art titles from the 'Shanghai Good Books' list increased noticeably in Australia.
In parallel, the New Zealand leg of the '2026 Shanghai Most Beautiful Book Poster Exhibition' was held at the New Zealand Multicultural Arts Centre, organised by the Shanghai Book Trade Association and China National Publications Import & Export (Group) Corporation Shanghai, and hosted by the Ormiston Town Centre cultural centre in Auckland. The exhibition featured 50 works selected from award-winning entries in Shanghai's 'Most Beautiful Book Poster' competition over the past two years. At the opening ceremony, Wang Yan, Chairman of East China Normal University Press Ltd, Ashley Grogan, Project Director of Arts Out East, and Wang Jianwen, Director of the China Cultural Centre in Auckland, delivered speeches.
Since 2018, the Shanghai Book Trade Association has organised a series of 'Most Beautiful Book Poster' activities including collection, selection, publication, and exhibition. Outstanding works have been exhibited in Shanghai, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, and Sydney.
Commentary
The recent promotional activities by Shanghai's publishing sector in Australia and New Zealand reflect a new pathway for China's cultural industries going global. Kinokuniya Sydney, as Australia's largest multicultural bookstore, is a key node for Chinese-language books entering local mainstream channels. The noticeable increase in orders for literature and art titles after last year's exhibition indicates genuine demand for Chinese content in the Australia-New Zealand market, with a preference for literature and art.
New Zealand SME owners may note two points: first, distribution channels for Chinese books in Australia and New Zealand remain primarily physical bookstores, with online sales relying on recommended lists. Local e-commerce or logistics companies could explore partnerships with China National Publications Import & Export (Group) Corporation to handle cross-border book delivery. Second, visual cultural products such as book poster exhibitions provide local design and printing industries with an entry point to connect with Chinese publishing institutions.
From an industry perspective, Chinese publishing's 'going out' has long relied on government projects, but this initiative is led by an industry association and operates on a market basis, with greater emphasis on sustainability. The participation of local cultural institutions such as Arts Out East shows space for cooperation at the community level. For NZ SMEs in cultural trade or education services, opportunities include acting as local copyright agents for Shanghai children's and educational books, or developing reading activities for Chinese-speaking and Chinese-learning audiences.
Keywords: Shanghai Good Books, Shanghai Most Beautiful Book Poster, Kinokuniya Sydney, New Zealand Multicultural Arts Centre, Shanghai Book Trade Association, China National Publications Import & Export (Group) Corporation Shanghai, China Cultural Centre in Auckland, Chinese culture going global
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