"Next year's major events, relating to the main theme, will not only focus on exchange activities for writers, but will also feature a two-day publishing forum co-organized by French Institute in Taipei and the fair's organizer in which they will share their experience with local publishing companies and book dealers, " said Linden Lin, chairman of the Taipei Book Fair Foundation.

Paulina Lin, executive director of the foundation, said there is much to be observed and learned from the publishing policies and traditions in France, such as the fact that the French government has adopted protection measures for small publishing companies so that the public can have access to non-mainstream authors and publications.

The 18th annual exhibition, which is expected to feature booths manned by some 300 local publishers, will be held next Jan. 27-Feb. 1 at the Taipei World Trade Center.

A record high of 906 publishers from 41 countries set up 2,108 booths at the 2009 event, which attracted about 500,000 visitors, representing a steep rise in comparison with the previous year, according to the organizer.

During the exhibition, the organizer will invite various famous Chinese writers both local and from overseas to hold forums in Taipei .

In addition, an event titled Classic 3.0, which is co-hosted by book fair organizers of Taipei, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing, will invite renowned Chinese authors from China, Taiwan and Hong Kong to speak at those book fairs, with all the speeches broadcast online.