Recently, the list of “National Key Cultural Export Enterprises for 2025-2026,” jointly designated by the Ministry of Commerce, the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and the National Radio and Television Administration, was announced. China Renmin University Press (CRUP) was honored once again, marking its 10th consecutive recognition as a national key cultural export enterprise. At the same time, two projects submitted by CRUP—the “Belt and Road Publishing Cooperative” and the “Understanding Chinese Modernization” Series (Multilingual Editions)—were selected as “National Key Cultural Export Projects for 2025-2026.”
CRUP is the first university press established after the founding of the People’s Republic of China, with its international rights trade activities dating back to the 1990s. Since the year 2000, CRUP has actively promoted its publications to the international world, serving as a pioneering force in the international dissemination of Chinese culture and publications. For decades, CRUP has remained committed to focusing on contemporary, academic, and China-related contents, using scholarly discourse to introduce China’s developmental achievements to the world. It adheres to collaborating with the top international publishers, industry leaders, and leading presses in target countries, forging a distinctive path for the international dissemination of high-end academic works. To date, CRUP has licensed over 3,500 titles to overseas markets, covering more than 40 languages, and established partnerships with over 1,000 publishing institutions across more than 60 countries and regions. By initiating the “Belt and Road Publishing Cooperative ” and setting up overseas branches in Israel, Romania, Mongolia, Italy, Kazakhstan, and other countries, CRUP has dedicated itself to building an international brand for China’s academic publishing, so as to tell China’s stories and amplify China’s voice worldwide. This latest recognition as a “National Key Cultural Export Enterprise for 2025-2026” not only reflects CRUP’s achievements in going global, but also signifies the full affirmation and strong support from relevant authorities for its efforts in promoting Chinese culture abroad.
“Belt and Road Publishing Cooperative,” selected as a “National Key Cultural Export Project for 2025-2026,” originates from the “Belt and Road Academic Publishing Alliance.” This alliance was initiated by CRUP in August 2017 with support from the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, the former State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television, and the Ministry of Education. In March 2019, under the guidance of the Publicity Department, the alliance was renamed the “Belt and Road Publishing Cooperative, ” with its secretariat headquartered at CRUP. It was also included in the outcome list of the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. To date, the Cooperative has expanded to include 328 member institutions from 60 countries and regions, covering most nations along the Belt and Road. In 2020, the Cooperative was recognized as an “Outstanding Case of Belt and Road Publishing Cooperation” by the Publishers Association of China, and in 2023, it received the “Global Service Practice Case” award at the Beijing International Trade in Services Expo (CIFTIS).
“Understanding Chinese Modernization” Series (Multilingual Editions), selected as a “National Key Cultural Export Project for 2025-2026,” is jointly planned by CRUP and the China Institute for Innovation & Development Strategy (CIIDS). The chief editor of this series is Mr. Zheng Bijian, the founding president and chairman of the academic committee of CIIDS. Its first batch of publication includes six seminal works:
- Understanding Chinese Modernization: The Key to Understanding China
- Understanding Chinese Path to Modernization
- Chinese Modernization: Strategy and Approach
- The Communist Party of China and Chinese Modernization
- New Drivers of China’s Economic Development
- Enhancing the Effectiveness of Understanding China: System Construction and Discourse Innovation
Notably, Understanding Chinese Modernization: The Key to Understanding China has been included in the 2024 China-Themed Publication Projects by the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee. This series addresses major theoretical and practical issues of Chinese modernization, while presenting vivid stories and historic achievements from China’s modernization journey to global readers. It stands as a high-quality collection that combines contemporary relevance, theoretical depth, and reader-friendly accessibility.
In the future, CRUP will continue to thoroughly study and implement the Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics, carry forward its red heritage, and strengthen its brand identity. CRUP will remain committed to building the press through political consciousness, establishing a foundation through textbook publishing, strengthening its position through academic excellence, enhancing quality through innovation, promoting development through openness. CRUP strives to grow into a world-class university press with distinctive Chinese characteristics, make new and greater contributions to building China into a strong socialist country in education and culture.
First review: Wang Fanghui
Second review: Liu Guangyu
Final review: Guo Xiaoming