The 13th China Film Festival opened in Auckland, New Zealand on Monday evening with a screening of Chinese crime drama "Traces of Justice", followed by a live panel featuring the movie's producers.
"Once Upon a Time in the Middle East," "Dear You," "Pegasus 3," "All Wishes Come True" and "Blades of the Guardians: Wind Rises in the Desert," are the Chinese films set to feature during the festival, showing at cinemas simultaneously in Auckland and the New Zealand capital Wellington.
Since it was launched, the China Film Festival, whose location alternates between China and New Zealand for every edition, has provided a strong platform for cooperation between the Chinese and New Zealand film industries.
"I think it is another strand of connection between our two countries. We have connections with people, now into that world comes the world of film. So exchange of filming and films and the film community is a positive step," said Sir Anand Satyanand, Former Governor-General of New Zealand.
"It's a very good chance for us to get to know the advanced technology, the advanced capability. So the more we cooperate, the better the movie, and the more people get together to advance the movie industry, I see it as a win-win for New Zealand and for China," said David Carter, former speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives.
"China is an important market and it's a great movie-producing nation and we love the Chinese talent, we love the Chinese film makers. So, of course we're excited. We would like to engage with Chinese film makers, Chinese culture," said Matt Horrocks, manager of Screen Auckland, New Zealand's largest movie production company.
The 13th China Film Festival, which runs until Nov 8, is organized jointly by the China Film Administration, the Chinese Embassy in New Zealand and the Chinese Consulate General in Auckland.
13th China Film Festival opens in New Zealand
China's imports of agricultural products in 2025 rose by more than 60 percent compared with 2017, the year before the China International Import Expo (CIIE) was launched.
At the ninth CIIE which opened in Shanghai on Thursday, guests said that the expo greatly facilitated the entry of overseas agricultural products into the Chinese market.
China is the world's second largest import market for agricultural produce, and also the largest importer of crabs.
In 2025, the country imported more than 130,000 tons of crabs, nearly 90 percent of them live.
"The reason why live crabs can be supplied to China year-round is that China has opened up market access to most crab species from major crab-producing countries. Currently, live crabs from over 20 countries and regions can be exported to China. Among them, mud crabs have the most sources, including 17 countries and regions such as Vietnam, Myanmar and Bangladesh," said Cao Derong, president of the China Chamber of Commerce of Import and Export of Foodstuffs, Native Produce and Animal By-Products (CFNA).
China's massive consumer demands also helped change the lives of local farmers.
"In the Shyamnagar area along the coast of Bangladesh, more local female residents have found employment as the mud-crab-farming industry expanded. They mainly work as 'inspectors', checking the water quality and environment of crab boxes every three hours. In this area alone, about 10,000 people work on crab farms," said Cao.
"Under the framework of the World Trade Organization, China's average bound tariff rate on agricultural imports is about 15 percent, far below the averages of developed and developing countries, which are around 35 percent and 55 percent, respectively. China is providing full-coverage zero-tariff treatment to all African countries with diplomatic ties, and to all least developed countries with diplomatic relations. This is an important contribution to the economic development of the Global South and developing countries around the world," said Tu Xinquan, dean of the China Institute for WTO Studies, University of International Business and Economics.
China's agricultural imports increase over 60 percent after CIIE launch
