"Friends of Peace" platform on Ukraine crisis launched at UN

China, Brazil and other like-minded countries of the Global South on Friday launched a "Friend of Peace" platform to move toward ending the crisis in Ukraine.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira, and Celso Amorim, special advisor to the President of Brazil, co-hosted a ministerial meeting of the platform, which was attended by representatives from 17 Global South countries, on the sidelines of the 79th UN General Assembly in New York.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said countries such as Brazil, China, South Africa, Egypt, Indonesia and Türkiye, which are all committed to a political settlement of the Ukraine crisis, agreed to form the "Friends of Peace" platform at the UN.

The platform does not seek to take sides in conflicts, engage in bloc confrontation, or replace existing platforms, he said.

It aims to gather more Global South countries, make an objective and rational voice, and play a constructive role in the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis, Wang said.

The meeting issued a joint communique consisting of a nine-point consensus reached among Algeria, Bolivia, Brazil, China, Colombia, Egypt, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Mexico, South Africa, Türkiye, and Zambia.

"Friends of Peace" platform on Ukraine crisis launched at UN

"Friends of Peace" platform on Ukraine crisis launched at UN

"Friends of Peace" platform on Ukraine crisis launched at UN

"Friends of Peace" platform on Ukraine crisis launched at UN

China's movie industry is increasingly deriving its earnings from broader consumer economy.

Released during the 2025 summer season, the film "Nobody" became China's highest-grossing two-dimensional animated film -- and its success went beyond theaters.

Through licensing and brand partnerships, the movie has generated 2.5 billion yuan (about 358.3 million U.S. dollars) in retail sales to consumers, with more than 800 licensed products on the market.

Ranging from plush toys to food and home goods, the movie-related merchandise can be purchased from over 3,000 online and offline outlets.

Meanwhile, souvenir stores are crowded at Shanghai Disneyland's Zootopia themed land, with hats, plush toys, and collectibles seeing steady demand from visitors.

"China's film industry is no longer defined by box office revenue alone. It has become a new growth engine that links and energizes multiple cultural sectors. At the heart of every successful film is strong storytelling. High-quality productions create cultural value, which in turn enhances the commercial value of intellectual property and opens up new consumption opportunities. I believe China's film industry delivered an outstanding performance in the past year," said Chen Xiaoda, vice dean of Shanghai Vancouver Film School.

Film IP fuels expansion of consumer market