2000: The Fifth Plenum of the 15th CPC Central Committee decided to improve the policies for cultural industries, strengthen administration of cultural markets and promote the development of the cultural sector. "Developing cultural industries" was first written in Central Government documents.

2001: The State Council required Shenzhen to experiment with reforming cultural institutions. China's first leading team of cultural sector reform was established in Shenzhen in November.

2002: The 16th CPC National Congress decided to promote the cultural sector reform and work out a plan for the reform as soon as possible.

2003: The CPC Publicity Department required 35 cultural institutions and nine cities to do cultural reform experiments, marking the beginning of China's cultural sector reform.

2006: The reform made a breakthrough and extended to the whole country. The decision on pushing forward with the cultural sector reform, made by the State Council in January, was implemented. The decision made explicit the guideline and goal of the reform.

2007: The 17th CPC National Congress pledged to work out policies to improve and support non-profit cultural services while developing cultural industries and encouraging innovation.

2010: By the year-end, more than 4,300 cultural institutions in publishing, distribution, movie production and other sectors had completed their transformation from government-funded to for-profit enterprises.

2011: The Sixth Plenum of the 17th CPC Central Committee adopted the decision on deepening the cultural sector reform and achieving cultural prosperity. The decision calls for an incentive mechanism for cultural products be established. It also encourages production of more high-quality works and healthy Internet content, requires cultural enterprises put social benefits of their products at the first place, encourages private capital into the sector to support innovation, and pledges to establish a nationwide network of free cultural services.