“The Governance of China” has sold 5.36 million copies, with 400,000 copies sold overseas. (Photo : Reuters)
More than 3 million copies of Chinese President Xi Jinping's book on governance have been sold since its publication the previous year, the book's publisher announced Friday.
According to a statement from the Foreign Languages Press, sales of the book "Xi Jinping: The Governance of China" reached a total of 3.17 million as of Jan. 15, Thursday. Further, 2.95 million of these were said to be Chinese versions, while 225,000 copies were in foreign languages.
The book contains a collection of speeches and instructions made by Xi from Nov. 2012 to June 2014 as well as photos of the Chinese president. It is available in Chinese and in translations in English, French, Russian and other languages.
"The book records the thinking and practice of Xi and the central leadership, responds to the concerns of the international community and opens a window for outsiders to observe and understand China," Cai Mingzhao, director for China's State Council Information Office, said during a book launch in October.
Since its release in September, "The Governance of China" has raised widespread interest not only in China but also in the west.
"The book explains the position of the Chinese president and the central leadership of the country, which could help us understand China's politics," said former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder.
Facebook co-founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg was also reported to have bought several copies of Xi's book and handed them out to his colleagues, according to state-managed news portal China.com.cn. Photos of Zuckerberg with the book at his desk at Facebook's headquarters were also widely circulated online.
"I want them [my colleagues] to understand socialism with Chinese characteristics," Zuckerberg was quoted to have said.
