China's largest bookstore, the state-owned Xinhua chain, celebrated its 70th anniversary today. The bookstore is older than (Communist) China itself, having been founded in 1937, twelve years before the People's Republic was declared in 1949. But all may not be well for the stores. The official Chinese newsagency (confusingly also called "Xinhua") reports this remark by Li Changchun, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of CPC [Communist Party of China] Central Committee: "I hope Xinhua Bookstore can feel the urgency to carry out speedy reforms, in order to meet the public's growing demands for 'food for thought' and in the face of a boom in global culture," Li said.
It's unclear exactly what that means. It could well be a call for greater openness, at least in the run-up the the Beijing Olympic games. Then again, in 1956 Chairman Mao encouraged free speech, famously saying "Let a hundred flowers bloom, let the hundred schools of thought contend." But a year later, he changed his mind and things ended very badly for those who'd spoken out.
For now, you can always get your Chinese language books right here in Minneapolis.
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