China will implement its first nationwide reading promotion regulation on February 1, establishing comprehensive legal frameworks to transform reading from voluntary activity into fundamental cultural infrastructure. The groundbreaking legislation, approved by the State Council in December, mandates expanded library services, enhanced reading facilities, and systematic funding mechanisms to elevate public engagement with literature.
The regulation designates the fourth week of April as National Reading Week, extending celebrations beyond World Book Day on April 23 into an extended nationwide campaign. This legislative move represents China’s inaugural national effort to codify reading promotion, transitioning from policy advocacy to legally guaranteed public right.
Structured across six chapters containing 45 articles, the regulation establishes a collaborative governance model operating under Party leadership with government guidance, engaging publishers, distributors, libraries, bookstores, and social organizations. It creates comprehensive requirements for reading infrastructure, resource allocation, and promotional activities nationwide.
Chen Mingliang, founder of Beijing’s Bright World Reading Club, hailed the regulation as “a pivotal moment in China’s commitment to promoting reading among the public, elevating it to a strategic priority.” He emphasized that the initiative transcends individual habit formation, serving crucial functions in “fostering shared understanding, strengthening social cohesion and enhancing social governance.”
The legislation specifically addresses persistent challenges including regional disparities, uneven digital reading standards, and quality content shortages. It mandates state-level support for publishing industry development to enrich offerings and optimize catalog structures, while prioritizing assistance for underserved groups including minors, elderly citizens, people with disabilities, and rural communities.
Writer-translator Li Yingdeng noted the legislation’s “equity core lies in its targeted reach,” explaining that “spontaneous initiatives and market forces often fail to reach rural areas and disadvantaged groups. Legislation is therefore essential to guarantee equitable access.”
The regulation builds upon nearly two decades of progressive efforts, including Jiangsu province’s 2014 pioneering provincial regulation and reading’s inclusion in government work reports for twelve consecutive years since 2014. These sustained initiatives have elevated China’s overall reading rate from 51.7% in 2004 to 82.1% in 2024, supported by over 3,200 public libraries and 100,000 physical bookstores nationwide.
Implementation success will depend on detailed execution, according to Zhu Bing, former director of the National People’s Congress’ Culture Office, who emphasized that “the vitality of laws and regulations lies in their implementation.” The regulation holds governments and relevant parties accountable for fulfilling specified duties to cultivate reading habits and foster a society-wide reading environment.