China ensures vast space for Africa's development while pursuing opening up: spokesman

There is always vast space for African countries in China's endeavor to expand high-standard opening up, and China will never be absent from Africa's pursuit of development and revitalization, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian on Friday.

China officially started to give zero-tariff treatment for 100 percent tariff lines to least developed countries (LDCs) this week, which received extensive welcome from Africa, as it has the biggest number of countries benefiting from the policy.

"President Xi Jinping announced at the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) this year that China will give all LDCs having diplomatic relations with China, including 33 countries in Africa, zero-tariff treatment for 100 percent tariff lines. This gives quality products from African countries more convenient and faster access to the big market of China, and will further boost Africa's industrial development, and help Africa improve employment and accelerate poverty alleviation. China is the first major developing country and major economy in the world to roll out this policy, and this demonstrates China's commitment to high-standard opening up," Lin said at a regular press briefing.

China upholds the principle of sincerity, real results, amity and good faith and the principle of pursuing the greater good and shared interests in developing friendly ties and enhancing cooperation with Africa. Aside from the zero-tariff treatment, China has also opened and expanded the "green lanes" for African agricultural products, provided facilitation for African companies’ participation in major expos, including the China International Import Expo and the China International Supply Chain Expo, built bridges for unique products from Africa to enter the global market, deepened cooperation with Africa on vocational training and human resources, and helped African countries improve capacity building in trade, the spokesman said.

"There is always vast space for African brothers in China's endeavor to expand high-standard opening up; and China will never be absent from Africa's pursuit of development and revitalization. At this year's FOCAC Summit in Beijing, President Xi Jinping put forward six features of the modernization that China and Africa should jointly advance and ten partnership actions for modernization, and the two sides adopted the Beijing Declaration and the Action Plan. China will work with African countries to earnestly deliver on the outcomes of the summit, pursue modernization together and in this process, drive modernization of the Global South, and enrich the all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era," Lin said.

China ensures vast space for Africa's development while pursuing opening up: spokesman

The lineup for the 2025 Spring Festival movie season was officially revealed on Wednesday with six highly anticipated films set to hit the big screens in China on the first day of the Spring Festival on January 29.

The six films -- Creation of the Gods II: Demon Force, Ne Zha 2, Detective Chinatown 1900, Operation Leviathan, Boonie Bears: Future Return, and The Legend of the Condor Heroes: The Great Hero -- span a range of genres and feature impressive creative teams.

Since pre-sales began on Jan 19, advanced sales for the holiday line-up were the fastest ever to reach 100 million yuan (about 13.8 million U.S. dollars).

At a launch ceremony for the Spring Festival movie season, held at the China National Film Museum in Beijing, the cast of each film highlighted the unique selling points of their movie.

"The viewers will not only uncover the hidden points of plot from the first installment of Creation of the Gods, but also get a real sense of the characters and their evolving relationships through a brand new theme," said Wuershan, director of the movie Creation of the Gods II: Demon Force.

Adapted from the classic Chinese martial arts novel by Jin Yong, The Legend of the Condor Heroes: The Great Hero captures the essence of Chinese chivalry with its portrayal of selfless heroism.

described it as a story with stirring heroism.

"The soul-stirring and awe-inspiring heroic spirit conveyed by the film will be touching, memorable and romantic as well," said Tsui Hark, who directed the film.

The animated film Ne Zha 2 continues the adventures of hero Ne Zha -- a beloved Chinese mythological figure -- with a focus on comedy and spectacular visual effects.

Retaining its signature style, the popular detective series Detective Chinatown 1900 promises twists and turns with big production values and glittering special effects.

As China's first film about nuclear submarines, Operation Leviathan presents a broader underwater battlefield and more complex combat scenarios, offering a unique perspective on naval warfare.

The Great Hero -- the last chapter of the "Boonie Bears" sci-fi series -- combines extreme romance and bold imagination to take viewers on a futuristic adventure.

Different discount and subsidy policies for moviegoers during the Spring Festival were also announced at the launch event with local film authorities across the country organizing special events and promotions to encourage cinema visits.

Supporting institutions, including the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, China UnionPay, Maoyan Entertainment, and Taopiaopia, are expected to provide at least 600 million yuan (about 83 million U.S. dollars) in subsidies for moviegoers during the holiday season.

Six new films set to hit China's big screens on Chinese New Year's Day