China Special Guest At Frankfurt Book Fair

MELISSA EDDY

BERLIN (AP) — Organizers of the Frankfurt Book Fair worked for 15 years to secure China as the guest of honor at their five-day showcase of global trends and best sellers. Yet even before the event opens to industry delegates Wednesday, the guests have proven awkward.

Organizers are steeling themselves for lively discussions and the possibility of protests at the fair, which boasts some 6,900 exhibitors from more than 100 countries.

In September, members of the Chinese delegation walked out of a pre-book fair symposium after two authors they had insisted not attend showed up anyway.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has promised to take up the issue of censorship with Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping, with whom she officially inaugurates the fair later Tuesday.

"I will make it clear in my talks with those responsible in China that freedom of opinion is not a threat, but a chance," Merkel said in her weekly video podcast.

The 61-year-old book fair remains the leading trading point for licensing everything from films to video games. It also is increasingly a place to showcase upcoming trends in electronic publishing and other new media forms — books for mobile phones are among one of the strongest emerging trends.