Capital to develop more bookstores

Beijing will make greater efforts to develop bookstores in the capital through policies such as subsidies and tax reductions, aiming to establish a well-structured reading environment for the public, the city's finance bureau announced on Tuesday.

The municipal government will invest 50 million yuan ($7.5 million) to support bookstore construction and operations in 2018, which is 2.8 times the annual investment in the sector in 2016 and 2017, the bureau said.

Bookstore construction will be included in the national economic and social development plan, with support for companies and individuals who want to build bookstores in commercial centers and tourist spots, on busy streets and in new residential communities, according to a guideline from the Beijing municipal bureau of press, publication, radio, film and television.