Shared history in focus as China Film Festival 2025 kicks off in London

The China Film Festival 2025 kicked off in London on Friday, drawing movie enthusiasts and filmmakers to gain a deeper understanding of China and its bilateral ties with the UK through the silver screen.

Nearly 200 Chinese and British guests attended the opening ceremony of the film festival, where they watched the opening film, "The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru," a documentary about the heroic rescue of British prisoners of war (POWs) by Chinese fishermen during World War II.

Zheng Zeguang, Chinese Ambassador to the UK, delivered a speech at the opening ceremony.

"We hope you will find them interesting, enlightening, and conducive to your understanding of China, the country, its people and China-UK relations," Zhang said.

"China and the UK enjoy a solid foundation for film cooperation with complementary strengths and vast potential for development. Filmmakers from both countries have achieved fruitful results in co-productions, technical exchanges, and film and cultural education," said Lu Liang, deputy head of the China Film Administration, at the opening ceremony.

In addition to "The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru," the four-day film festival will also showcase outstanding Chinese films, including "My People, My Country," a film made to celebrate the 70th founding anniversary of the People's Republic of China, "The Composer," a drama co-produced by China and Kazakhstan, and the Chinese animated blockbuster "Ne Zha 2."

The event aims to offer audiences in the UK an opportunity to engage with Chinese culture, traditions, and perspectives -- all through the lens of the silver screen.

"Just socializing with Chinese people and understanding that we are similar just from different cultural backgrounds, I think it all helps," said a guest of the opening ceremony.

"It's amazing how there's incredible connections between countries at times that remind us of our shared history rather than a conflict history," said another guest.

"What's happening in China with the animation industry and the entertainment industry presents a huge opportunity," said a guest.

Shared history in focus as China Film Festival 2025 kicks off in London

The Standing Committee of China's 14th National People's Congress (NPC) concluded its 22nd session on Thursday morning in Beijing.

At the closing meeting, lawmakers voted to approve the revised Prison Law and Social Assistance Law, remove Han Jun from the post of minister of agriculture and rural affairs, appoint Zhang Zhu as the minister, and appoint Zhang Chengzhong as minister of emergency management.

President Xi Jinping signed presidential orders on the removal and appointments.

NPC Standing Committee Chairman Zhao Leji presided over the closing meeting, which also approved a deputy qualification report.

The meeting adopted decisions on approving a treaty on judicial assistance in criminal affairs between China and Azerbaijan, and a treaty of permanent good-neighborliness, friendship and cooperation between China and five Central Asian countries, namely Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

The legislators voted to remove Feng Yi from the post of deputy secretary-general of the NPC Standing Committee, among other appointments and removals. Zhao presided over a lecture for lawmakers after the closing meeting.

The Standing Committee held an oath-taking ceremony to pledge allegiance to the Constitution at the Great Hall of the People on the day.

China's top legislature concludes standing committee session