a. China printing industry should speed up network construction in preparation for developing electronic business and information networks. By forecast, the number of people with internet access in China is expected to grow to 200 million by year 2010. In future the publishing houses and advertising companies will communicate and expand business through internet. Network will be an imperative tool for sharpening their competitive edge.

b. Printing house should develop in direction of multi-media processing enterprises. In the future printing house is no longer a factory only to process printing media by accepting the traditional artworks, but it will be a media- processing factory capable of accepting multi electronic documents or digital information. It should be developed to do diversified business, not only for multi-media processing and database establishment, but also to expand digital resources management and serve the market.

c. In cooperation with the information industry we shall focus on developing a digital workflow which is suitable to our state condition, speed up the construction of printing professional website and pay attention to integrating with international world.

d. To pay attention to criterion and standardization
Setting up an integrated printing production system on the base of digital, networks and digital media technologies is a characteristic of the development of the present printing industrial technology. With automation upgraded in pre-press, press and post-press, printing production process will grow into a complete digital networks system, even with extension from pre-press to planning, designing and organizing, from post-press to storing, circulating and marketing. Printing reproduction system will become an information management system by networks and be merged into huge global networks system, thus offering a vast business opportunities. The opening and modular structure of the system becomes especially important. Although it must appear in various forms, the criterion and standardization of the system is the essence. China must quicken its steps in this field first by enlightening the understanding of the leaders in various levels. The government shall strengthen its support while enterprises shall strengthen their participating enthusiasm and force. Only by this way the introduction and digestion of advanced technologies and equipment abroad would well be achieved. Thus to make home made and foreign made equipment compatible with each other. The investment output and profit as a whole can be heightened. Their competitiveness in the market can be enhanced.

e.To handle correctly the relation between the traditional printing and new rising printing.
In view of the native condition of China we shall lay stress on developing new technologies such as Computer to Plate, digital proofing, digital printing and integrated reproduction control system on the base of adjusting the traditional printing structure and technical reforms. In practice we should consider the feasibility and effectiveness of the new technologies to be adopted and refrain from rash decision in pursuit of 'super and new' to avoid heavy losses.

f. To develop the relevant industry with even greater efforts
On self- reliance and overseas funds, we shall enthusiastically make way for strengthening the development of super quality equipment and materials for pre-press, press and post-press. This development should meet the demands of new growing enterprises of digitalization and network which is the base of modernization of China's printing industry. Meanwhile we also attach importance to introduction of advanced equipment, technologies, management and personnel, and pay attention to digesting, assimilating and creating new initiation after importation, thus giving imports a full play.

An Approach to Cooperation with Asian Enterprises

hina has a long history of friendly relation with the Asian countries. In recent years the printing industry and the relevant industries in China have successful cooperation in many areas with Japan, Korea, Singapore, Indonesia and etc. Toppan Printing co., Ltd. and Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd., of Japan set up their factories in Hong Kong in earlier years. Toppan also has a factory in Shenzhen several years ago. Toppan and Dai Nippon have successfully reached cooperation agreement with Relics Publishing House and Palace Museum in Beijing on the reproduction of precious historical relics by digital high- tech. Shaken Co., Ltd. and Morisawa Phototype Ltd. sponsored an award competition for new typeface every 2 years regularly. Many Chinese designers have participated the competition and won the awards. Mr. Morisawa Xinfu the late 100 old man donated his personal savings as funds and set up 'Morisawa Print Award ' jointly with Printing Tech. Association of China. At present the figure of the winners has reached about 100. Organized by ISO IEC10646, China, Japan and Korea laid down jointly 'CJK Unified Coding for Chinese Character' and 'IRGN601 The Latest CJK Chinese Character Documents Collection'. Fuji, Hamada, Toyo Ink, Tonhwa, and Dai Nippon Ink have set up factories of joint-venture respectively with the relevant manufacturers in China. Recently a company in Singapore has set up a printing house of joint-venture with No.3 printing House Shanghai; Fuji Photos Co. and China Printing S & T Institute jointly signed an agreement on establishing a joint-venture factory for producing PS plates; APP Paper Making Group of Indonesia has set up large- sized paper manufacturing enterprises in China. In the spheres of printing equipment, paper, card boards and photosensitive plate materials of super quality, the Chinese enterprises have had many business transactions and relations with some well-known companies of Japan, Korea, Singapore, Indonesia, etc.

Printing Technical Association of China also has established a long- term friendly cooperation with Japanese Printing Industry Federation, Japanese Printing Technical Association and Japanese Printing Academy. Japanese Printing Association has supported China for running printing technical management correspondence courses for as long as 14 years. The trainees exceeded 6000; On the suggestion of Japan,'The Forum of Asian Graphic Arts Technology' is sponsored and organized jointly by Japan, China, Korea and Thailand, and an efficient support is offered technically and materially to the host state by turn. There are also excellent records on the cooperation between China and Japan in The World print Congress Steering Committee or other international print organizations

The above facts show that a good foundation has been laid for the cooperation between China and other Asian countries. Without doubt, this good cooperative relation would be further strengthened in the new millenium.

On the cooperation among Asian countries in future, I like to offer the following suggestions:

a. To strengthen the organization construction of FAGAT by setting up an efficient working mechanism. For example to have a secretariat in Japan. We can open website and make links with various members and print organizations in Asian region, so to keep even closer and more frequent contacts among them. We propose to collect a certain amount of membership dues from the member nations, and at the same time to seek donations and contributions as funds for FAGAT to support its regular activities. The technical Committee in plan should start their work as early as possible; FAGAT should increase its member nations gradually. At present there are 40 countries in Asia, and 16 in South-east Asia. However only 7 countries from South-east Asia are affiliated to FAGAT. There is no other member from other Asian regions. This condition absolutely does not match the state of Asia, the largest continent occupying 30% of the total land area and with 60% of the total population of the world. In order to enhance cohesion and expand influence of FAGAT, India, Indonesia and other Asian countries should be admitted by FAGAT. So to make FAGAT an authoritative printing organization in Asia and make greater contribution to the development of printing industry in Asia and as well as in the world.

b. To promote technical exchange and assistance among the developed and the developing countries in the Asian region. On the principle of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, achievement sharing and knowledge property rights respected the international cooperation could be encouraged, so to attain the aim of personnel exchange and joint sharing all resources, information and achievements.

c. China, Japan and Korea should cooperate in deepening the study of ancient printing history Adhering to the principal of respecting history and science, abiding with practical and realistic attitudes, basing on equality and friendliness, rational study and seeking common ground, while reserving differences, by respecting the national feelings and keeping a copious bosom meantime, all inventions and innovations should be considered as the common wealth of mankind. They not only belong to a nation, but also to the world. During the study and discussion, we all should be more and more prudent in consideration of changing the generally recognized conclusions in earlier years. We should solidly carry out a historical complete and systematic investigation and study with a stress on offering substantial evidence. For the issues which are difficult to get final conclusion for lack of sufficient evidence, we can have academic discussion on them internally, and it is inadvisable to give them publicity. Some particular complicated issues should be put aside temporarily. As time goes on and with application of new and high-tech in the study, and some new culture relics may be excavated, there are possibilities that these problems can be finally be solved correctly.

d. The printing professional journals and books published by member organizations can be exchanged regularly. The members can authorize each other to translate, publish, and reprint articles from the other journal.

e. In the country and regions of Chinese speaking and Chinese characters using, it is advisable to organize the studies of Chinese characters standardization, promotion of simplified Chinese characters and standardization and unification of printing terminology.

f. The members should carry out bilateral and multilateral printing professional investigations, visits and to hold regional technical exchanges, technical seminars and exhibitions.

g. The member nations should support each other in international printing professional activities

Conclusions: The 21st century is a new epoch of mankind. Some said that it is the Asian century. The development of China can not be separated from Asia and the world, and likewise the development of Asia and the world also needs China. At this 5th FAGAT the discussion on the subject 'Asian Graphic Arts: Building Strengths and Mutual cooperation' by the various delegates is of great significance for the future development of Asia.

Let us further investigate and study, expand our common understanding, strengthen mutual cooperation and unite to make joint efforts for overall vigorous growth of Asian printing industry.