On the afternoon of June 19, 2024, during the Beijing International Book Fair, the FLTRP International Partner Reception was successfully held at the FLTRP booth in the China National Convention Center. This marked FLTRP's first International Partner Reception since the pandemic, coinciding with its 45th anniversary. Representatives from internationally renowned publishing houses such as Oxford University Press, Cambridge University Press and Assessment, Springer Nature Group, Taylor & Francis Group, Pearson Education Publishing Group, HarperCollins Publishers, as well as new and longstanding friends from Hong Kong, Taiwan, Central and Eastern Europe, Southeast Asia, and Arab countries along the Belt and Road Initiative, gathered with over 100 attendees to celebrate friendship and discuss development. Secretary of the CPC Committee of FLTRP Group (FLTRP), Chair of the Board of FLTRP Group, President of FLTRP, Wang Fang, Deputy Editor-in-Chief Zhang Siying, Vice President Wang Yong, and representatives from various departments within FLTRP attended the reception.
President Wang Fang expressed in her speech at the reception that FLTRP has deeply cultivated foreign language education publishing through international cooperation, influencing several generations of foreign language learners in China. This achievement, she emphasized, would not have been possible without the continued trust and support from international partners. Since signing its first copyright agreement in 1983, FLTRP has steadily advanced on the path of openness and cooperation, transitioning from "bringing in" to "going out", and from traditional print to digital publishing. The concept of international cooperation has continuously innovated, with diverse forms of collaboration emerging.
In an era dominated by digital technology and artificial intelligence, FLTRP has been undergoing a continuous transformation towards digital intelligence. Its digital products and services now reach 70 million users across all education segments in China, with digital-related revenues accounting for 30% of total revenue in 2023. Despite a downturn in the industry in the first half of this year, FLTRP's revenues have shown a counter-trend growth, largely driven by its digital initiatives.
President Wang Fang emphasized that there is no time to wait, and under the new situation of change and innovation, the importance of international cooperation has become more prominent. FLTRP looks forward to deepening collaboration with international partners in the digital domain, aiming to connect the world through publishing and deliver more high-quality content and service experiences to readers both domestically and internationally.
Alexander Broich, President of Cengage Select, General Manager for English Language Teaching and Cengage Work, Jeremy North, Managing Director for Books of Taylor & Francis Group, and Kate Wilson, CEO of Nosy Crow, shared their stories and feelings about their collaboration with FLTRP at the event. Some important partners and author representatives who could not attend in person sent video messages to FLTRP: Peter Phillips, Chief Executive, Cambridge University Press & Assessment, Santiago Ruiz de Velasco, Managing Director, ELT, at Oxford University Press, Emma Bourne, Managing Director of Curriculum, Macmillan Education, Giovanni Giovannelli, President, ELL, Pearson Education, Julia Alexander, author of " Junior New Concept English Edition" and Korky Paul, illustrator of the "Winnie the Witch Magic Picture Books" series, all conveyed their congratulations to FLTRP and expressed their positive expectations for future cooperation.
This year marks the 45th anniversary of FLTRP's establishment. Born at the beginning of China's reform and opening-up era, FLTRP's DNA and essence lie in internationalization. Through international cooperation, FLTRP has introduced a large number of high-quality foreign language education resources into China and actively promoted Chinese books to the world, spreading the voice of China. Looking ahead, FLTRP will continue to leverage its strengths, act as a cultural ambassador, further explore and expand the depth and breadth of cooperation with international partners, create new a new glory in international cooperation, contribute to the promotion of mutual learning between Chinese and foreign civilizations and the building of a community with a shared future for humanity!
