Chinese science fiction stories, which draw inspiration from the country's rapid development, will continue to find favor with readers worldwide, renowned Chinese sci-fi writer Liu Cixin told CCTV on Friday.
The three-day China Science Fiction Convention 2024 kicked off on Saturday in Beijing's Shougang Park. Ahead of the event, CCTV sat down with Liu, author of the best-selling sci-fi epic "The Three-Body Problem," which won him numerous awards at home and aboard, including the 2015 Hugo Award for Best Novel, to share his insights into China's sci-fi industry and its global influence.
"China's rapid growth has made it a country full of futuristic elements, which provides a favorable environment for the development of sci-fi literature. Therefore, Chinese sci-fi literature is developing quickly, and a fast-developing China has drawn global attention in terms of culture," Liu said.
Liu's works have fascinated millions of readers all over the world including former U.S. President Barack Obama and been adapted into TV series and movies by domestic and foreign producers.
He believes Chinese sci-fi novels offer people worldwide an intriguing window into Chinese people's take on the universe and imagination of future life.
"Sci-fi literature itself reflects Chinese people's views on the universe and the future. I think this is something that readers outside of China, including those in the West and other parts of the world, would like to know. From this perspective, for the foreseeable future, I think Chinese sci-fi literature could continue to be exported to other parts of the world," said the novelist.
China's sci-fi industry reported a year-on-year growth of 29.1 percent in 2023, generating a total revenue of 113.29 billion yuan (about 16 billion U.S. dollars), reads the 2024 China Science Fiction Industry Report, which was made public on Saturday at the 8th China Science Fiction Convention in Beijing.
Chinese sci-fi stories appealing to global readers: renowned novelist
Politicians and diplomats from France, Serbia and Hungary have shared their views on Chinese President Xi Jinping's just-concluded state visit to their countries, saying Xi's tour has resulted in fruitful achievements in enhancing trade cooperation and diplomatic relations.
Xi visited the three European nations from Sunday to Friday, during which he held talks with leaders of these countries and witnessed the signing of multiple agreements.
While in France, Xi was warmly welcomed by President Emmanuel Macron who invited him to visit Hautes-Pyrenees, a place holding special significance to the French president.
Speaking with China Global Television Network (CGTN), Jean-Claude Trichet, former governor of the Bank of France, said that Xi's visit highlighted the importance of personal relationships between world leaders, and that the French hospitality in the Pyrenees echoes the informal talks between Xi and Macron in April 2023 in Guangzhou, the capital of south China's Guangdong Province.
"I think that it is something which is of utmost importance for the head of state and government to entertain this kind of personal relationship. After all, the relationship between states and powerful nations everywhere in the world are based upon, as a last resort, the personal understanding and trust of those who are engaging in the discussion and the dialogue. So, President Macron's invitation in the Pyrenees is very much echoing, if I may, the nice invitation of President Xi in Guangdong, where Macron was in the last visit he paid to China," said Trichet.
The second leg of Xi's Europe tour is Serbia, where Xi held a meeting with President Aleksandar Vucic.
At the meeting, Vucic said Serbia firmly supports and will actively participate in the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative put forward Xi respectively in 2021, 2022 and 2023, adding that his country will stay in close strategic coordination with China in multilateral fora.
Commenting on Xi's visit, Vuk Jeremic, former Serbian Finance Minster, said that in a complicated world, the China-Serbia relationship is only going to become stronger.
"Our relationship with China is very predictable, very clear. It's only going to become stronger and go from strength to strength. Now, it is a complicated world. We live in a time of geopolitical recession, and we're all acutely aware of that. So, China's approach globally, that is enshrined in the three global initiatives of China, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative, is something that Serbia truly respects and supports. And as a matter of fact, during President Xi's visit to Belgrade this week, Serbia formally supported and joined those global initiatives, which I think does volumes about our relationship for the future in the multipolar world," said Jeremic.
As the last leg of Xi's three-nation Europe tour, Hungary exchanged 18 cooperation agreements with China, covering areas such as trade, agriculture and green development.
The two countries also decided to elevate bilateral relations to an all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership in the new era.
Sandor Meszaros, former Hungarian Ambassador to China, said that following Xi's visit, the China-Hungary relationship will enter into a new phase.
""I would like to mention that this year, especially here in Hungary and Chinese relations [in terms of our relations with China], we celebrate the anniversary of the 75th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between the two countries. What we have been developing in our relations and proceeding in our relations will be still on principles which are important for both sides. This is mutual respect and benefits, respect for each other, choice for road and development [choice of the path of development]. So, as a conclusion, I can see that relations will enter into a new phase into the continuous development and enlargement of the relations," said Meszaros.
Xi's three-nation Europe tour arouses positive responses in host countries
