Liu, meanwhile, said he has noticed from the large number of imported books in China that coverage is not always fair and objective. Many foreign books and reports, for example, exaggerate some aspects of China and draw conclusions that do not always match reality.

He noted that some books speak of a threat from China while other authors conclude that wealth is rapidly growing in China and call on the country to assume more responsibility in the world arena.

In fact, he said, China ranks well below 100 in the list of nations sorted by per capita GDP, even though it is the world's second-largest economy.

Liu said he is hoping to see more imported books portraying China as it really is.

He noted that Chinese books being exported will describe the country in an objective way.

Liu also revealed that 17,000 overseas newspapers and magazines, including Playboy, are available to Chinese subscribers and can be picked up in places where foreign people may congregate, such as hotels and airports.

"In fact, Playboy magazine was available in China 10 years ago at certain locations," he said, adding that at least 6 million copies of international newspapers and magazines are sold in China each year.

The official said the time is not yet right for Playboy and other foreign newspapers and magazines to be retailed in newsstands everywhere but, he said, the country's publication market will be more open to foreign competitors.

Chinese periodicals and books are now accessible in more than 3,100 bookstores and national libraries in 193 countries, with newspapers circulating to nearly 90 countries, according to statistics from the General Administration of Press and Publication.