Media firms will become for-profits

China wants government-run publishing houses to operate as for-profit businesses by 2010.

Liu Yunshan, head of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, described the proposed change during a meeting of publishing house directors in Beijing in late May.

Liu said the reform strategy calls for transforming publishing houses from government-affiliated entities to independent businesses responsible for their own profits and losses.

The change will make publishing houses more competitive, Liu said, urging publishing house executives to complete the change by the end of 2010.

Liu praised the publishing houses for meeting the country's cultural needs and also for increasing the country's scientific knowledge and literacy levels.

Xinhua

(China Daily 07/27/2009 page2)