Chinese are reading more digital books than paper ones

A domestic made ebook reader on display at the 2016 China Digital Reading Conference in Hanghzou, Zhejiang province, April 13, 2016.[Photo by Long Wei/Asianewsphoto]

More Chinese are now reading digital books than physical ones, according to Xinhua News Agency.

It said 64 percent Chinese used some form of digital device to read in 2015, a 5.6 percent jump compared with those who preferred paper books, adding that 60 percent adults read on mobile phones.

The data was released by Wu Shangzhi, vice-minister of the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television, at the 2016 Beijing International Publishing Forum on Tuesday.

The forum also announced that China's digital publishing industry posted a revenue of 440.39 billion yuan ($66.3 billion) in 2015, a 30 percent surge over the previous year.

Wu Shangzhi said the huge base of internet users and the increasingly strong demand for digital reading have greatly pushed forward the development of digital publishing in China. In recent years, the traditional publishing units have increased their digital footprints, and are seeking innovative breakthrough in product and operating mode.

The new forms of collaborative literature and audio books are emerging. These developments bring great potential for publishing industry and attract the extensive participation of internet enterprises, telecom operators and e-commerce enterprises, as well as emerging publishers such as new media, animation and gaming enterprises.

With the 13th Five-Year Plan including the "digital publishing" as part of new emerging cultural industry for the first time, Wu believes that this will push forward the digital publishing process in China.