The 2025 the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Film Festival concluded in China's Chongqing Municipality on Sunday, with multiple supportive policies released in a bid to boost the China's film-making industry.
The film festival, held from Thursday to Monday, attracts filmmakers from Russia, Belarus, Pakistan and other SCO member states to present films of their respective countries.
The event also gathered over 40 domestic film enterprises to present the latest advancements in film technology and production.
The policies rolled out at this year's SCO Film Festival are designed to nurture and empower film-making entities.
They offer subsidies for company establishment and facility construction, and provide comprehensive support across multiple areas, including script creation and trading, film distribution and screening, technological innovation, and talent attraction and development.
To encourage companies in China to produce films in Chongqing, subsidies will be provided for both the service fees incurred during filming and the technical services in post-production.
The maximum cumulative subsidy for a single project can reach up to 35 percent.
Thanks to these policies, 23 major film and television projects, as well as 19 TV drama projects, have been signed in Chongqing. These projects cover cutting-edge fields, including digital production, smart imaging, prop library construction, and artificial intelligence (AI) empowerment centers.
"The policies released this time are more targeted, which strengthened our determination to bring our subjects to Chongqing," said Xu Shenjun, head of a film-making company.
"This is a good opportunity, so we'll seize it. We're planning to start filming a movie in October and will begin collaborating with Yongchuan," said Liu Liming, head of another film-making company.
With the theme "Technology and Film, Charm of the SCO," the film festival, spans five days and features forums on international cooperation, tech exhibitions, tourism initiatives, and drone light shows.
Highlights of the film festival also include screenings of dozens of outstanding films from SCO member countries and the announcement of winners of the Jinshancha (Golden Camellia) Awards at the closing ceremony on Sunday.
This year marks the 130th anniversary of world cinema and the 120th anniversary of Chinese cinema. The SCO Film Festival stands as a key cultural event alongside the SCO Summit, offering a powerful platform for storytelling, collaboration and mutual understanding.
SCO Film Festival concludes in Chongqing
Visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Saturday China is willing to work with Lesotho to strengthen exchanges on governance experience, enhance coordination in multilateral affairs, and advance the China-Lesotho strategic partnership.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when meeting with Lesotho Prime Minister Sam Matekane in the capital of Lesotho.
During the meeting, Wang congratulated Lesotho on the 60th anniversary of its independence this year, and spoke highly of Lesotho government's efforts to prioritize economic development and steer the African country onto a path of sustainable growth. Since the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in 2024, the two sides have advanced cooperation under the 10 partnership action plans unveiled at the summit, successfully implementing a number of key projects to effectively promote Lesotho's development and revitalization, Wang said.
China stands ready to work with Lesotho to strengthen exchanges on governance experience, enhance coordination in multilateral affairs, and push for greater development of the China-Lesotho strategic partnership, he added.
Calling on the two sides to firmly support each other, Wang said that China will accelerate the implementation of its zero-tariff policy for African countries, including Lesotho, expand bilateral trade, investment and industrial cooperation, facilitate broader access of Lesotho's specialty products to the Chinese market, and continue to support Lesotho's national development.
China will continue to stand firmly with African countries, uphold justice for the Global South, including Lesotho, oppose unilateralism and acts of bullying, and work together to build a community with a shared future for humanity, Wang said.
On his part, Matekane said during the meeting that Lesotho cherishes its friendship with China and the strategic partnership between the two countries, and expressed gratitude for China's valuable support for the development of African countries, including Lesotho.
Lesotho firmly adheres to the one-China principle and resolutely supports China in safeguarding its core interests, he said, noting that his country stands ready to strengthen strategic mutual trust with China, expand people-to-people exchanges, jointly implement the outcomes of the FOCAC Beijing Summit, and deepen cooperation in areas such as infrastructure, manufacturing and energy.
Matekane stressed that China's zero-tariff policy for African products will inject new impetus into Lesotho's development. He also expressed Lesotho's willingness to strengthen solidarity and cooperation with China on multilateral platforms such as BRICS to jointly address global challenges.
On the same day, Wang also held talks with Lejone Mpotjoana, minister of foreign affairs and international relations of Lesotho.
China, Lesotho to strengthen exchanges, advance cooperation
