China's TV makers seek co-op with world counterparts

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-04-01 14:32

CANNES, France -- China seeks more and better cooperation with other countries in TV drama, documentary and animation making despite the current economic recession, said a Chinese official here Tuesday.

Tian Jin, deputy director of the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television of China (SARFT), made the remarks in a keynote speech at the Focus on China forum on the China Day during the MIPTV trade show, one of the world's largest entertainment content markets

This year's China Day, co-hosted by SARFT and MIPTV, is the fourth one in MIPTV's 46-year history. The China Day activity comprised of a high-level symposium on co-production, content showcases and program promotions.

"What is most needed is to restore confidence and strengthen cooperation when facing with the financial crisis in a rapidly changing world," Tian said.

He called on media organizations from different nations to work together to seek common development with mutually acceptable magnanimous attitudes to learn from each other.

China has its largest delegation ever at MIPTV this year. More than 200 professionals from over 40 leading TV drama organizations in China, such as the CCTV-CITVC, the China International Cartoon and Animation Festival Committee, CCTV Movie Channel, Beijing TV Station, Hunan TV Station and the Capital TV Drama Producers Association, participated in MIPTV at the China Pavilion.

They showcased high quality TV programs, such as documentaries Wild China, Beijing, Dun Huang, Culture Giants-Confucius, and TV dramas -- The Legend of Bruce Lee and The Dream of Red Mansions, as well as animations -- Romance of the Three Kingdoms and The Adventures of Zheng He.

Some well-known TV professionals, such as Brian Leith, executive producer of BBC Natural History Unit, and David Haslingden, CEO of National Geographic Channels International, discussed with their Chinese counterparts on how to strengthen cooperation in the TV industry.

Tian said China has established partnerships with some 200 broadcasting organizations from more than 100 countries and regions.

Over the past several years, China has co-produced with their international counterparts nearly 10,000 hours of TV dramas, documentaries and animations.

"What we want is to enable TV professionals from different nations to see a real China, the prospects of China's TV industry and to envision increased long-term cooperation with China," Tian said.

In 2009, the Chinese broadcasting industry will seek a steady growth in production output and quality, he said.

On the technology front, it plans to speed up development in online TV and mobile multimedia programs.

"We will try to transform our media industries from domination by traditional media to a new phase where new media and traditional media co-exist and develop together," he said.