China set to headline 2009 Frankfurt Book Fair

FRANKFURT, Oct 5 (Reuters) China is likely to be the featured country of the 2009 Frankfurt Book Fair, the head of the trade show said today, following another controversial choice, Turkey, for 2008.

According to the worldwide association of writers, International PEN, China is stepping up the oppression of authors ahead of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

The group frequently protests against arrests and detentions of journalists and writers in China.

But Frankfurt Book Fair Director Juergen Boos said that the trade show wanted to send a political signal in favour of freedom of expression in its choice of featured country, and that a book fair with China would also likely feature Taiwan.

''Of course there will be critical voices,'' Boos told Reuters, adding that if China became guest nation the fair would also feature debates about the human rights situation in Tibet.

The world's largest book fair has decided to make Turkey guest nation in 2008, a choice that could spark controversy after two recent court cases raised questions about freedom of expression in the European Union candidate country.

This year's guest nation is India. Fair officials expect up to 300,000 people to visit the trade show, which began on Wednesday and runs until Sunday.

REUTERS DKB KN2335