China to foster 'healthy, quality' online literature

China will foster online literature sites to lead creative work toward a healthier and higher quality direction over the next three to five years, according to a guideline issued in recent days.

The guideline came in response to Chinese President Xi Jinping's remarks on art in a key seminar in October.

Issued by the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television (SAPPRFT), the guideline said online literature has become an important part of the country's digital publishing industry, gaining wide popularity among literature fans and young people.

However, online literature is filled with derivative, plagiaristic and stereotypical works that seek only economic benefits. The industry also faces incomplete supervision by authorities.

The guideline stressed that online literature should serve the people and socialism. It should follow the trend of the times and respond to people's demands. Social effects and values should be viewed as the priority.

The guideline added that writers must view the people as the center and subjects of their work. Publishers in the industry should focus on quality works with innovative ideas to strengthen the appeal of online literature.

The guideline also called for an administrative mechanism for writers, strengthened training in professional ethics, and a registry and inquiry system for online literature.

It encouraged state-owned publishing firms to publish online. It also said social capital should be allowed to invest in the industry, and China's online literature should enter the international market.

The guideline put forward some measures to foster the industry, such as guiding the critics of online literature, establishing an assessment system, advancing new technology to promote online literature, strengthening copyright protection, and cracking down on pornography and other "harmful" content, as well as fiscal support to the industry.

Addressing renowned authors, actors, script writers and dancers at a symposium in October, Xi urged artists to create more works that are both artistically outstanding and morally inspiring in order to serve the people and present core socialist values.

Artists should not "lose themselves in the tide of the market economy or go astray while answering the question of whom to serve, otherwise their works will lack vitality," he said.

Art should not be a "slave" to the market and should not bear "the stench of money," Xi said.