Beijing, April 19:

China faces a ‘huge’ cultural trade deficit and its cultural products, therefore, should be further promoted to the international market to narrow it, a top official said.

“Our statistics years ago showed that the ratio of imports of cultural products to exports was 10 to 1, and this ratio has only been enlarging in recent years,” said Ding Wei, assistant minister of culture, at a press conference held on Tuesday by the State Council Information Office.

While Ding did not give any specific figures regarding the deficit, statistics from the general administration of press and publication show that China has bought more than 4,000 copyrights from the US in recent years, but the copyrights exported to the US during the same period amounted to only 16.

Ding said traditional Chinese thinking is dragging the development of the country’s cultural industry. “The concept of a cultural industry is new to most Chinese people, as traditionally, culture and business are separate matters.” “We also lack well-received cultural products that can occupy international markets, especially the branded ones. Professional intermediate agents are also in shortage.”

He said China has formulated favourable polices for the development of the culture industry, but “apparently, the government should offer more incentives.”

In an attempt to further promote Chinese cultural products to go global, the Second China International Cultural Fair is to be held from May 18 to 21 in Shenzhen, in South China’s Guangdong Province. Jointly hosted by the ministry of culture, the state administration of radio, film and television, the general administration of press and publication, and the Guangdong provincial government, it is the only international cultural fair to be held in the country.

Cultural companies and agents from 26 foreign cities have signed up to participate, which makes the fair a platform that integrates Chinese cultural products with the international market, said Xu Zongheng, mayor of Shenzhen.