Over 30 filmmakers from Belt and Road partner countries visited Shanghai's Xinchang Ancient Town on Friday during the 27th Shanghai International Film Festival Belt and Road Film Week, where they appreciated both cinematic arts and the town's ancient China vibes.
Xinchang Ancient Town, one of the filming locations for renowned director Ang Lee's movie "Lust, Caution," offered filmmakers experiences such as appreciating traditional Suzhou Pingtan opera, tasting Chinese tea and pastries, learning about traditional Chinese medicine culture and making Chinese herbal sachets.
"I find it fascinating. It's very mysterious to me, because I don't know much about it. It's also so different from region to region, and I realize that there is a lot of richness. So I would like to travel more and and see more regions, and stay longer time, because one week is very short," said Teodora Mihai, director of Romanian film "Traffic."
"I've heard that they shot a lot of films, and I understand why. I mean it's seems like a very good location for filming. It's my first time here so I hope to come back, whenever I can and to make a movie," said Balint Szimler, director of Hungarian film "Lesson Learned."
"I find that Chinese people very open, with an open heart and with an open mind, receiving us from all over the world in this beautiful festival. I find it very important," said Urzula Barba Hopfner, director of Mexican film "Corina."
In recent years, Shanghai has been linking tourist attractions and cultural venues with the film festival to boost consumption and promote integrated development of culture, tourism, and business.
Int'l filmmakers experience old town's charm during Shanghai film festival
China and the European Union (EU) have agreed that it is necessary to provide general guidance on price undertakings for Chinese exporters of passenger battery electric vehicles to the EU, China's commerce ministry said on Monday.
The move aims to address relevant concerns in a more practical, targeted, and consistent manner with World Trade Organization (WTO) rules, according to the Ministry of Commerce in a statement.
Accordingly, the European Commission will issue a Guidance Document on Submission of Price Undertaking Offers. In the document, the EU confirms that it will assess each undertaking application under the same legal criteria, in accordance with the principle of non-discrimination and relevant WTO rules, in an objective and fair manner.
The progress fully reflects the spirit of dialogue and the outcomes of consultations between China and the EU. It shows that both China and the EU have the ability and willingness to properly resolve differences through dialogue and consultation within the framework of WTO rules, thereby maintaining the stability of automotive industrial and supply chains in China, the EU, and the whole world. This is conducive not only to ensuring the healthy development of China-EU economic and trade relations, but also to safeguarding the rules-based international trade order, the statement said.
On the same day, the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products (CCCME) also issued a statement welcoming the positive outcome of the consultations.
The CCCME noted that eligible Chinese EV makers may now submit price undertaking applications in accordance with the EU's guidance, and the European Commission has pledged to review all applications objectively, fairly, and under uniform standards.
The proper settlement of this case meets the shared expectations of industries along the EV supply chain in both China and Europe. It will help ensure the security and stability of related industrial and supply chains and safeguard the broader China-EU economic and trade relationship, the CCCME said.
The chamber expressed appreciation for the substantial efforts made by China's Ministry of Commerce in defending the interests of the domestic industry. It also pledged to encourage and support relevant Chinese enterprises in making full use of the consultation outcomes to protect their interests in exporting to the EU and promote healthy cooperation between the industries of both sides.
China, EU agree on price undertaking guidance for Chinese electric vehicle exporters: commerce ministry
