A Chinese military expert noted that this year's Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Defense Ministers' Meeting has three key highlights that should not be missed in the context of complex international and regional dynamics.
Against the backdrop of complex and evolving international and regional tensions, China is hosting the meeting as scheduled in Qingdao City of east China's Shandong Province on Wednesday and Thursday.
Defense leaders of SCO member countries, as well as senior officials of SCO Secretariat and Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure are participating in the meeting.
"This SCO Defense Ministers' Meeting has three key points: First, adherence to founding principles. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the SCO's establishment. Since its inception, the organization has been consistently promoting the 'Shanghai Spirit', fostering both bilateral and multilateral cooperation, and maintaining peace and stability in international and regional contexts. Second, expansion of membership. This meeting features the largest number of participating member states after Belarus was officially accepted as a member last year. Notably, the defense ministers of India and Pakistan are expected to attend together. Third, significance of timing. The meeting convenes amid frequent regional conflicts. The SCO is dedicated to building consensus, narrowing differences, and promoting unity among its members," said Zhang Chi, a professor of Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) National Defense University.
Meanwhile, Professor Zhang emphasized the unique characteristics of the SCO itself.
"(The first characteristic is that) the SCO is not a military alliance. Military alliances are established against enemies and opponents, while the SCO does not target any third party. (The second one is that) the military alliances and multilateral mechanisms established by the United States and the West are often exclusive and confrontational, while the SCO always adheres to openness and win-win cooperation. The third characteristic is its emphasis on non-traditional security cooperation, particularly in counter-terrorism efforts. The SCO has conducted a series of joint military exercises under the codename 'Peace Mission'," said Zhang.
As one of the important activities hosted by China as the SCO rotating president, the 2025 Defense Ministers' Meeting will further consolidate and deepen the military mutual trust and pragmatic cooperation among SCO member countries.
Expert elaborates on highlights of 2025 SCO defense ministers' meeting
An industry observer said that 2026 is poised to be a "year of sequels and cultural stories" in global animation, following a strong 2025 where such films dominated box offices worldwide.
With heavyweights like Toy Story 5, Minions 3, and China's perennial favorite Boonie Bears set for release, along with culturally rooted productions such as The Three Kingdoms: War 1 Luoyang, the coming months are expected to draw large audiences and reinforce animation's central role in cinema.
This optimism is built on a solid foundation from the previous year.
Looking back at China's film market in 2025, animated features emerged as a powerful driving force. Four of the year's top 10 highest-grossing films were animations, three of which were domestic productions.
Total animation revenue exceeded 25 billion yuan (around 3.58 billion U.S. dollars), capturing nearly 50 percent of the annual box office. As the new year unfolds, the animation sector continues to shine with promising highlights.
A key trend driving this momentum is the surge of sequels from major franchises.
"One notable trend is the abundance of sequels to classic animated films, particularly from Hollywood. Several iconic series are releasing new installments, making 2026 a year of animated sequels. Given their strong IP foundation, these sequels are expected to attract more audiences' attention and achieve solid box office results," said Hu Jianli, secretary general of the Chinese Film Critics Society.
Alongside these international sequels, domestic animation IPs are also deepening their influence and expanding their reach. The annual Boonie Bears series will welcome its latest installment, while the popular TV series The Immortal Ascension is set for its big-screen debut.
"It's fair to say that the Boonie Bears series has maintained the most consistent quality among domestic animated film franchises over the years. Its expansion from television to movies, merchandise, and theme parks represents a fully developed industrial chain, greatly strengthening the IP's presence in the public consciousness. As for The Immortal Ascension, it's the first time that the animation IP is adapted for the big screen, which naturally generates exceptional attention—especially following the successful live-action web series last year. If this first animated film adaptation succeeds, it has the potential to become a major film IP in its own right," said Hu.
Beyond the reliance on established franchises, another significant creative trend is the growing number of animated films drawing inspiration from China's rich classical literature and historical epics. This approach aims to connect with audiences through deeply rooted cultural narratives.
A leading example is a prominent Chinese animation studio Light Chaser Animation's upcoming "The Three Kingdoms: War 1 Luoyang", which dramatizes the early power struggles from the famed historical period.
"We are seeing a clear increase in animated films adapted from classic Chinese novels and myths. Light Chaser Animation Studios' 'New Culture Series' has performed exceptionally well in our animated film market—for example, 30,000 Miles from Changan earned over 1.8 billion yuan (around 257.98 million U.S. dollars) at the box office. This series has truly succeeded in creatively transforming and innovatively developing China's outstanding traditional culture for the big screen, while also resonating emotionally with today's young audiences through its storytelling and character adaptations," said Hu.
Beyond sequels and adaptations rooted in traditional culture, original animated films are also carving out their space with unique concepts and distinctive styles, showcasing further creative possibilities.
Titles such as Arco, a 2025 animated science-fantasy film, and Pixar's Hoppers exemplify this trend of innovation.
"I believe animated films will remain a major force in the global box office in 2026. The worldwide top-grossing film of 2024 was Inside Out 2, and in 2025 it was China's Ne Zha 2. So I'm confident that animated films will once again rank among the highest-grossing releases globally this year," Hu said.
Animated films set to dominate 2026 global box office with strong lineup
