Christian Trade Association International's (CTAI) Marketsquare Asia 2007, held Sept. 3-5 in Hong Kong, drew 237 Christian suppliers and booksellers, organizers said.

Stanley Shum of Chinese Bible International, a Hong Kong-based publisher, called the largest evangelical retail convention in Asia "a historic event in the church."

"With 35 Christian booksellers from mainland China, we've witnessed a new movement of God in our lifetimes," he said.

The mainland China Christian retailers CTAI were able to attend Marketsquare Asia to receive vital training thanks to more than $16,000 raised in an offering taken during the International Christian Retail Show in Atlanta this summer, organizers said.

"This is the third time we've held this kind of convention in Hong Kong and each one has had its unique aspects," CTAI President Jim Powell said. "A large number of Asian suppliers joined the exhibitor list this year in addition to the blessing of (the) Christian booksellers from mainland China."

Alex Li, chairman of the CTAI chapter in Hong Kong, said Marketsquare Asia represented "a key opportunity for booksellers and publishers in Hong Kong to welcome and support fellow Christian publishers and retailers from across Asia."

Meanwhile, the CTAI-sponsored Korea Christian Rights Fair, held Sept. 6-7 in Seoul, attracted 72 Korean Christian publishers, who completed translation contracts with 10 foreign publishers, CTAI officials said.

"I am very impressed," said Piotr Waclawik of Vocatio Publishing House in Poland. "There is much interest in negotiating with publishers from other parts of the world here."

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