China is the Guest of Honor at the annual London Book Fair 2012, which opened Monday at Earls Court Exhibition Center, placing China's publishing and literary industries in the international spotlight.

The Market Focus Pavilion features over 180 Chinese publishers who are showcasing the various aspects of publishing in China. It also includes a wide range of professional and cultural events and industry debates covering an array of topics from education and literature to copyright.

"The press and publishing industry in the world will not prosper without the participation of China," Liu Binjie, minister of the General Administration for Press and Publication of China, said at the China and Europe Publishing Forum Monday. 

Meanwhile, Alistair Burtenshaw, director of books and publishing at Reed Exhibitions, said, "The Chinese market is matured and becoming more self-confident."

"It gives us outsiders a rare opportunity to meet and interact with the Chinese writers," Margret Renshaw, an art designer, told the Global Times.

Invited authors include internationally known writers such as Bi Feiyu, the winner of the Man Asian Literary prize in 2010, multi-award winning author Mo Yan and best-selling young novelist Annie Baobei.

"Business is a functional channel but it's the culture that is most fascinating," a Nigerian businessman who asked to be identified by his surname, Rajesh, told the Global Times. Rajesh said that he hopes for more English translations of original Chinese books in order to learn more about China.

The three-day fair will be attended by over 1,500 exhibitors from 57 countries.