To Beijing, a place usually associated with smog and mystery. But after a suffocating European summer, this year’s Beijing International Book Fair provided a breath of fresh air. For after the Brexit vote and the ruthless turmoil that accompanied it came an opportunity to get back to what we do best, namely sell rights, strike deals and make friends.
This year, UK publishing was accompanied on the plane by the new minister for business, energy and industrial strategy, Baroness Neville-Rolfe. The minister and her excellent team threw themselves into a range of meetings, speeches and conferences, all designed to support British intellectual property (IP) businesses in this complex market. As I watched this heartening sight unfold, I was reminded once again of the two pillars on which the international author and publisher community stand.