Over 140 role models watch flag-raising ceremony to celebrate National Day in Beijing

More than 140 role models for ethnic unity and progress, who just received their awards last week, gathered at the Tian'anmen Square in Beijing on Tuesday morning to witness a grand flag-raising ceremony and celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, along with thousands of spectators from all over the country.

Many Chinese have developed the custom to watch the national flag raising ceremony at the Tian'anmen Square on Oct 1 to celebrate the National Day.

While watching the national flag going up, they sang the Chinese national anthem in chorus, wishing prosperity for the country prosperity, and unity and progress for all ethnic groups.

One of the role models is Tsering Lhamo, headmaster of the Nagqu Special Education School in the city of Nagqu, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region.

She brought a special gift from the more than 100 disabled students in her school to the site.

"The children told me to bring a hada scarf as a gift from them for the 75th birthday of our country. We all wish the country prosperity, the people good luck and health. Tashi Delek!" she said.

"I feel very honored to be able to attend this flag raising ceremony with compatriots from all the 56 ethnic groups. We will focus on forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation and do a good job in carrying forward our ethnic culture and developing our Hezhe villages," said Wang Hao, a role model from the Hezhe Ethnic Group and Party committee secretary of Hezhe Town in Raohe County, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province.

"This is a formal attire that we Mongolians wear when attending grand festival events. It's my first time to watch the flag-raising ceremony in person. I feel very proud. We will give full play to the role of our museum as an education base for ethnic solidarity and tell well the story of the Chinese nation as one community, the story of exchange, communication and integration among the united and diverse ethnic groups, and the story of ethnic solidarity and progress," said Wu Chunlei, a Mongolian role model and president of Eastern Mongolia Museum in Harqin Left Wing Mongolian Autonomous County, northeast China's Liaoning Province.

Over 140 role models watch flag-raising ceremony to celebrate National Day in Beijing

The 30th Hong Kong International Film and TV Market (FILMART) opened on Tuesday, kicking off a four-day bonanza attended by over 790 exhibitors from 38 countries and regions.

This year's event provides a platform for the trading of film and television entertainment content to promote global cultural exchange and cooperation in the industry.

The expo, underway in the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center, has attracted participants from both established and emerging markets, including major film and television markets such as France, Italy, and the Republic of Korea, as well as ASEAN countries like Cambodia and Malaysia.

It also features numerous exhibitors from emerging markets participating for the first time, demonstrating the potential for cross-regional cooperation in the film and television industry.

The event has partnered with 10 global film promotion organizations to promote more cross-regional cooperation and co-production projects.

As the mainland film and television industry actively expands into overseas markets, film and television exhibitions have gradually become one of the key platforms to help mainland companies to go global.

"First, we are bringing high-quality audiovisual content, including our TV series Swords Into Plowshares and over a dozen other new shows. Second, in terms of ecosystem development and technology-driven innovation, we are forging strategic partnerships with tech giants. We hope to leverage platforms like Hong Kong to accelerate and enhance the transformation and upgrading of our business," said Zhao Yifang, founder and CEO of Huace Group.

EntertainmentPulse, a forum organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, was held alongside FILMART, bringing together industry leaders from around the world to discuss hot topics such as artificial intelligence, video streaming, and project financing.

30th Hong Kong FILMART opens