Guadalajara, Mexico - On November 29, local time, Chongqing’s publishing sector made its first-ever collective appearance during the Guadalajara International Book Fair, bringing more than 160 titles to one of the world’s largest literary events and the top marketplace for Spanish-language publishing. 

The presence marks a major step in the city’s global publishing outreach, strengthening cultural exchange and copyright cooperation between China and Latin America.

The Chongqing publishing delegation brought more than 160 selected Chongqing-published titles to Mexico for exhibition. (Photo/Chongqing Municipal Press and Publication Bureau)

This year, Chongqing established a dedicated exhibition at Hall II, Booth 20, covering 36 square meters. With the themed concept “Reading Across the Land-Sea”, the stand showcased books spanning history, cultural heritage, global studies, and urban narratives. Representatives from Chongqing Xinhua Bookstore Group, Chongqing Publishing House, Chongqing University Press, Southwest University Publishing Group, and other publishing institutions attended.

The booth’s design drew wide attention — a multi-layered cultural cube integrating bold Latin American colors with Miao embroidery motifs, expressing dialogue between civilizations. A book-shaped light installation displayed the landscape of Fengdu, while Chongqing’s cultural mascots appeared alongside symbols of Mexico’s Day of the Dead, visually translating the fair’s spirit of mutual exchange.

Visitors described the booth as “a book one can walk into,” noting how Chinese aesthetics and Latin color blended seamlessly.

160 Publications Presented, Rights Negotiations Active

More than 160 Chongqing-published works were exhibited for rights negotiation. A major highlight was the “Land–Sea Series”, a long-term project exploring cultural exchange from the ancient Silk Road to today’s Belt and Road Initiative. Published works cover global tea history, grain circulation, bronze civilization, oracle bones, legal texts, and archaeology — illustrating the continuity and openness of Chinese civilization.

Fengdu County contributed local cultural publications, along with folk-culture IP products themed on Fengdu mythology and the Ba-Yu divine bird — opening a window into the Bashu cultural world for Latin American readers.

Multiple copyright intentions were reached with Mexican institutions, these agreements pave the way for Chongqing titles to expand further into Spanish-speaking markets.

Multiple Spanish-language copyright cooperation agreements were reached on-site. (Photo/Chongqing Municipal Press and Publication Bureau)

Spanish Launch of “Six Perspectives of Chinese Modernization Series” Becomes Highlight

On the same day, the Spanish-language edition of “Six Perspectives of Chinese Modernization Series” made its global promotion at the Guadalajara International Book Fair, becoming a highlight of Chongqing’s presence at the world’s largest Spanish-speaking publishing event. Organized by the Chongqing Municipal Press and Publication Bureau and hosted by Chongqing Publishing House, the launch brought together nearly one hundred scholars, publishers, translators, and cultural institutions from across Mexico and Latin America.

The promotion event is a core component of the 2025 Chongqing Publishing's Trip to Mexico and Brazil, the six-volume set systematically explains Chinese-style modernization through six dimensions — worldview, values, historical perspective, civilization perspective, democratic perspective, and ecological perspective — offering a new interpretive framework for Spanish-speaking readers to understand China’s modernization pathway.

At the launch, Ma Ranxi, Deputy Director of the Publicity Department of the CPC Chongqing Municipal Committee and Director of the Chongqing Municipal Press and Publication Bureau, emphasized that publishing is becoming a bridge between civilizations.

“We hope the world may read China, and China may read the world,” he said, highlighting Chongqing’s role in connecting inland China to global cultural networks.

An academic dialogue followed, featuring scholars from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and the Latin American Council of Social Sciences. Speakers discussed the translation process and theoretical value of the series, noting that China’s modernization experience provides meaningful reference for the Global South, where multiple modernization routes are under exploration.

The event concluded with the signing of a strategic cooperation agreement between Chongqing Publishing House and Latin American partners, committing both sides to joint publishing, translation exchange, academic collaboration, and cultural dialogue — marking a new stage in China–Latin America publishing cooperation.

The global promotion of the Spanish edition of “Six Perspectives of Chinese Modernization Series” took place in Guadalajara, Mexico. (Photo/Chongqing Municipal Press and Publication Bureau)

Toward a Shared Reading World

Chongqing’s debut in Guadalajara demonstrates growing momentum in cultural export and two-way literary circulation. Nearly 30 cooperation intentions were reached during the fair, marking progress toward building a global reading network rooted in understanding and mutual appreciation.

As more Chongqing titles enter Latin America — and more Latin American works find readers in China — publishing becomes a bridge across oceans, shaping a shared cultural future.

From land to sea, from Chongqing to the world — literature continues the journey.