Yuan Yachun (left), editor-in-chief of Zhejiang University Press, and Mu Ping, president of Shans Publishing House, unveil the joint editorial office in Moscow, Russia on Sept 7. [Photo provided to ezhejiang.gov.cn]

Zhejiang University Press and its Russian partner Shans Publishing House unveiled a joint editorial office in the Russian capital city of Moscow on Sept 7.

Designed to develop and publish books related to China-Russia relations and culture, the platform will facilitate greater cultural exchanges between the countries and an increased amount of translated literature. The two publishing houses also hope to organize visits, training courses and seminars for industry insiders.

Working with the Russian publishing house will provide Zhejiang University Press with an important avenue into producing publications not just in Russian but Kazakh, Ukrainian and Uzbek.

Yuan Yachun, editor-in-chief of Zhejiang University Press, and Mu Ping, president of Shans Publishing House, both agreed that the editorial office has the potential to greatly benefit customers and allow for innovative approaches to telling Chinese stories worldwide.

Filimonov Oleg Vasilevich, vice chairman of the Russian Association of Publishers, congratulated them on the establishment of the Moscow office, saying he highly appreciated the successes the two companies have brought the industry in the past few years.

Vasilevich also expressed his hope that there will be more communication and cooperation between Russian publishing companies and their Chinese counterparts.

Zhejiang University Press has been working hard to expand the influence of Chinese culture on the global stage.

They are particularly interested in producing more literature on the government's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which has attracted global attention. Public appetite for information about the project has skyrocketed and, to meet the demand, they have published an increasing number of works on the subject. 

As the world's two powerhouses, China and Russia have enjoyed a long history and a solid foundation of partnership in the publishing sector.

Zhejiang University Press has collaborated with Shans in publishing BRI books in a variety of languages.

Following the opening of the office it will work with Russia's Vostok Books to publish a Russian edition of a series of books set on Zhejiang's experience in reform and opening-up.