A high-level national forum focused on reconciling robust copyright protection with expanded accessible reading services kicked off Monday in Nanchang, the capital of east China’s Jiangxi Province. The convening brought together policymakers, disability advocacy leaders and cultural officials to advance a core goal: making reading rights more inclusive for marginalized groups and lifting the quality of China’s nationwide public reading initiatives.Organized jointly by the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the China Disabled Persons’ Federation, the forum framed the protection of reading access for people with disabilities as a foundational pillar of China’s people-centered development approach. Beyond advancing cultural inclusion, attendees emphasized that guaranteeing equal reading access is a critical step toward upholding broader societal fairness and justice.A key highlight of the discussions was the landmark national regulation on promoting public reading, which entered into force across China in February 2026. The policy centers on closing gaps in reading resources across different population groups, prioritizing the protection of reading rights for vulnerable key demographics, and includes explicit, targeted provisions to expand accessible formats and uphold reading access for people with disabilities.As authorities work to build out a comprehensive national accessible reading ecosystem aligned with the new regulation, forum participants called for scaled-up investment in technology-driven copyright management. Leveraging digital innovation to both strengthen copyright protection and streamline authorized access to accessible reading materials, they argue, will allow service providers to deliver far more convenient, affordable reading options for people with disabilities.In addition to domestic policy and infrastructure priorities, forum organizers also committed to deepening international exchanges and cooperation on accessible reading initiatives. The move is designed to share China’s progress in advancing cultural inclusion and collaborative problem-solving on equitable access to information with the global community.
Forum explores integration of copyright protection with accessible reading services
