China launches film-themed pro-consumption campaign ahead of Spring Festival

China launched a nationwide promotional campaign on Friday to invigorate the film and catering industries and boost integrated cultural consumption momentum ahead of the nine-day Spring Festival holiday.

Co-hosted by the China Film Administration and the Ministry of Commerce, the campaign, titled "Follow Films to Taste Delicacies," was officially inaugurated at a launch ceremony in Shaoxing City, east China's Zhejiang Province.

The event spotlighted six major Spring Festival film releases: the espionage thriller "Scare Out", the racing sequel "Pegasus 3", the epic martial arts film "Blades of the Guardians", the animated adventure "Panda Plan: The Magical Tribe", the family-friendly "Boonie Bears: Every Year with a Bear", and the fantasy adventure "Per Aspera Ad Astra".

Each film is paired with regional culinary specialties from across the country, encouraging audiences to explore local food cultures alongside their cinematic experiences.

Major financial institutions are backing the initiative with consumer incentives. The China Construction Bank and the China UnionPay unveiled a series of bundled promotions linking movie tickets with dining discounts.

Meanwhile, China State Railway Group and Air China announced in-transit promotional programs featuring Spring Festival film highlights and food recommendations on high-speed trains and flights, extending the campaign's reach beyond theaters.

Zhejiang Province is rolling out a one-month initiative involving over 500 merchants under the theme "Explore Zhejiang Through Movies and Local Goodies," enabling consumers to redeem dining and tourism discounts with movie ticket stubs.

Shaoxing City has launched an 18-day campaign titled "Blessings: Celebrating the New Year in Shaoxing's Ancient City," allocating 10 million yuan (about 1.44 million U.S. dollars) in film consumption vouchers and organizing themed markets featuring local delicacies and Song Dynasty-style (960-1279) fairs.

"Zhejiang will create more 'film plus' integrated consumption scenarios, and welcome more film enthusiasts and consumers to visit our province, particularly Shaoxing, to savor local delicacies and enjoy films," said Tang Yanjun, deputy director of the film division at the publicity department of the Communist Party of China Zhejiang Provincial Committee.

The Spring Festival, also known as the Chinese New Year, lands on Feb 17 this year. It is the most cherished annual occasion for family reunions in China.

China launches film-themed pro-consumption campaign ahead of Spring Festival

A group of Japanese citizens held a rally in front of the Prime Minister's Office in Tokyo on Friday, voicing strong opposition to Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's erroneous remarks on Taiwan and her military expansion plans.

Protesters held up signs and chanted slogans at the rally, condemning Takaichi's wrongful remarks.

"Takaichi's remarks clearly deviate from the previous administration's position. Her claim that a 'Taiwan contingency' could constitute a 'survival-threatening situation' for Japan is an extremely dangerous provocation for war. We absolutely cannot tolerate such statements," said a protester.

"Regarding Takaichi's so-called 'Taiwan contingency' remarks, I believe it was a serious transgression. In an instant, it destroyed the long-accumulated exchanges between our peoples. We have always adhered to the one-China principle, and our people absolutely cannot tolerate such statements," said Masashi Tani, secretary general of the Japan Congress against A-and H-Bombs.

Protesters said that Takaichi's actions since taking office, including revising three national security documents, relaxing restrictions on arms exports, and planning to increase the defense budget, have not only failed to enhance Japan's security but have instead heightened regional tensions.

"This is an administration that could push Japan toward war. I remain highly vigilant about a series of extremely dangerous plans, such as further increasing the defense budget and revising three national security documents. In my view, such a person is utterly unfit to serve as prime minister and should step down as soon as possible," said a protester.

Protesters also argued that Takaichi's rush to dissolve the House of Representatives was based on her own political calculation rather than a response to the real difficulties faced by the public.

"As for Takaichi's forceful dissolution of the House of Representatives, I cannot help but doubt whether she truly understands the real hardships faced by the public. In politics, the primary consideration should be the lives of the people, especially those struggling in cold waves and heavy snow," Tani said.

Japanese citizens rally against Takaichi's Taiwan remarks, military buildup