The General Administration of Publication under the Central People's Government was a department of the Central People's Government, which was responsible for directing and managing national publishing undertakings in the early days after the founding of the People's Republic of China. It was established in October 1949. In November 1954, the General Administration of Publication was disbanded, and its functions were transferred to the Ministry of Culture.

 General Administration of Press and Publishing of PRC

1. Administrative responsibilities

   To draft laws and regulations concerning press, publications and copyright; conduct research and draw up principles and policies for the press and publication sector; draft regulations and important administrative measures for management of press, publications and copyright, and organize the implementation, supervision and inspection of these regulations and measures.

    To work out development plans, overall controlling targets and industry policies for the press and publication sector, and direct their implementation; participate in drafting economic policies and related regulations for the press and publication sector.

    To examine and approve the establishment of new publishing houses (including book presses, audio-visual presses, electronic publication presses, newspaper offices, and periodical offices, the same below) and general distribution units for publications (including books, newspapers, periodicals, audio and video products, and electronic publications etc., the same below); examine and approve the founding of audio and video production and electronic publication copying agencies, newspaper groups, collective management of copyright and agent offices dealing with imported publications; and approve the founding of Sino-foreign joint ventures and cooperative enterprises in the fields of press and publication.

    To supervise and manage press and publication activities, including publishing, printing, copying and distribution of publications; and severely deal with contraband publications transgression activities in publishing, printing, copying, and distribution units.

   To supervise and manage the printing industry.

    To draft overall controlling policies and regulations of the publication market, and direct their implementation; investigate and deal with or organize the investigation and handling of illegal publishing and illegal publications; draft principles, policies and plans for the fight against pornography and illegal publications; and coordinate steps in fighting against pornography and illegal publications and in carrying out investigations and handling important and serious cases.

    To be responsible for the management of publishing and duplicating audio and video products.

    To organize and direct the publishing and distribution of textbooks, important documents of the Party and state, and other important publications.

    To manage the work of copyright, organize investigation and handling of serious copyright infringement cases, and cases involving foreign countries; represent the country to handle copyright relations with other countries; organize and participate in negotiation and signing of bilateral or multi-lateral treaties and agreements concerning copyright, and their implementation in China.

    To be responsible for the work related to external exchanges and cooperation in the fields of press, publication and copyright, and manage and coordinate the import and export of books, newspapers, periodicals and electronic publications.

    To be responsible for planning compilation and publishing of ancient books.

   To compile and formulate scientific and technological development plans and standardization plans for the press and publication sector, and organize the implementation; and, organize and coordinate scientific and technological work in the sector.

    To compile and formulate plans for training managers for the press, publication and copyright sector, and organize the implementation; and be responsible for national citation and rewarding activities for the management work of the press, publications, and copyright.

    To undertake work assigned by the State Council.

2. Internal Setup

General Office, Book Publishing Management Department, Newspaper and Magazine Publishing Department, Department for the Management of Audio and Video Products and Electronic Publications, Department for the Management of Publication Distribution, Department for the Management of Printing Industry, Personnel and Education Department, External Cooperation Department, Copyright Management Department.

Address: No. 85, Dongsi South Avenue, Beijing, China

Postal code: 100703

Tel: 86-10-65124433

 China International Publishing Group

The China International Publishing Group (CIPG) is the administrative organization for foreign languages publishing and distribution in China. It was established in 1963, with its competent authority shifted from the State Council to the Ministry of Culture in 1982.

Major responsibilities: to carry out overall planning, organization, and direction for compiling, publishing, printing, and distributing of major foreign language books and periodicals nationwide.

The China International Publishing Group boasts five periodical presses: "Beijing Review", "People's Pictorial" (known as "Chinese Pictorials" worldwide), "People's China", "China Report" and "Chinese Literature". There are 10 presses under its management: Foreign Languages Press, New World Press, Chinese Literature Press, Chinese Esperanto Press, Zhaohua Press, Haitun (dolphin) Press, Chinese Teaching Press, Beijing Weekly Press, the People's China Press, and Chinese Pictorial Publishing Corporation. There are also a foreign language printing house that can print books and periodicals in 52 languages, China International Book Trading Corporation (China International Bookshop) that deals in import and export of Chinese and foreign language books and periodicals, artworks, microcopy publications, and a Foreign Language Publishing Paper Company that deals in paper for foreign language books and periodicals.

From 1983, the China International Publishing Group publishes more than 40 million copies of books and periodicals to 182 countries and regions in the world every year.

 National Committee for Publication

China National Committee for Publication is a consultative organization for publishing in China. It was established in November 1982, composed of senior experts in the publishing circles and renowned writers invited by the government.

Its major responsibilities include: conduct investigation into such important issues as implementation of publishing policies, planning of book publication, development of publishing industry, reform of the publishing system, working out publishing regulations, and improvement of publishing staff, and put forward opinions and advice, in order to help the governmental publishing administration to grasp the publication direction, and to promote the development of publishing undertaking.

  State Bureau for Publication

China State Bureau for Publication is the organization of the People's Republic of China that guides and manages nationwide publication. It was established in 1973, and originally named State Publication Administration, directly under management of the State Council. In 1982, it was merged into the Ministry of Culture, and called Publication Administration of the Ministry of Culture. In July 1985, it was renamed State Bureau for Publication. The units directly attached to the State Bureau for Publication included: People's Press, People's Literature Press, the People's Fine Arts Publishing House, People's Music Press, Chung Hwa Book Corporation, the Commercial Press, Encyclopedia of China Publishing House, Chinese Strip Cartoon Press, Sanlian Bookshop, Rong Bao Zhai, China Translation and Publishing Corporation, China National Publishing Industry Trading Corporation, China Printing Corporation, China Printing Materials Company, China Publishing Science Research Institute, China Printing Research Institute of Science and Technology, Headquarters of Xinhua Bookstore, Beijing Printing Institute, and Shanghai Publishing and Printing College.

After the State Council decided to establish the General Administration of Press and Publication, the State Bureau for Publication was disbanded in January 1987.

 National Copyright Bureau

The National Copyright Bureau is the organization of the People's Republic of China that guides and administrates nationwide affairs concerning copyright. It was established in July 1985. The major responsibilities of the State Copyright Bureau include:

   To organize to draw up the copyright law and related rules and regulations, and supervise their implementation;

    To provide legal consultation for copyright owners;

    To represent the country to handle external copyright relations;

    To direct nationwide copyright administration.

Location: Dongsi Nandajie 85 Beijing

Postal Code: 100703

  Local Authorities of Publication

After the foundation of the People's Republic of China, local authorities of publication have undergone disconnecting and merging for several times. Since January 1987, when the State Council decided to establish the General Administration of Press and Publishing, local publication administrations have been generally confirmed. The provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government all establish their local Press and Publication Administration Bureaus, which are responsible for local publication undertakings in their respective regions. The major responsibilities of the provincial press and publication administration are: to propagate and carry out policies and rules of the Party and the State concerning publication, and supervise and check their implementation through its affiliated publishing houses; work out detailed implementation rules according to relevant publication laws of the State; work out the development planning for local publication undertakings; manage publishing, printing, and distribution of books and periodicals in the local region; manage the book market and investigate illegal publishing activities jointly with other organizations concerned; and take the responsibility for dealing with copyright disputes in the local region.