Jiangsu-based Phoenix Publishing & Media Inc (PPM) will further cooperation with the city of Birmingham in England, after a meeting between the two parties was held in Nanjing on Nov 28.

PPM and Birmingham have many remarkable achievements under their belt, largely thanks to the participation of the University of Birmingham (UoB), said She Jiangtao, president of PPM.

PPM and UoB jointly produced a series of publications on Shakespeare literature, medical history, and clean energy and worked together to build the Centre for Research and Publication in the Social History of Medicine and the Shakespeare Centre in China.

PPM and Birmingham City Council will use the Phoenix Library project to promote Chinese culture in Birmingham, co-host an exhibition to showcase Chinese botanical artworks, and jointly hold the "Phoenix International Children's Novel Award".

The entry submissions and jury preparation should be done earlier so that the winners can be announced during the Commonwealth Games 2022 in Birmingham, suggested Ian Ward, leader of the Birmingham City Council.

The councilor described the city as a gateway to the book markets of England and the United Kingdom as a whole.

He said Birmingham will host a Chinese culture week in July 2020, where PPM will unveil its Phoenix Library project and a Chinese botanical art show.

The meeting was also attended by Lloyd Broad, head of European and International Affairs at the Birmingham City Council, and Waikit Ho, consul at the British Consulate General in Shanghai.