On the evening of 20 September 2016, the Opening Ceremony of ASEAN Film Panorama was held in Qujiang International Cinema in Xi’an. The Ceremony was one of the activities of the ASEAN Film Week during the 3rd Silk Road International Film Festival. H.E. Mme. Yang Xiuping, Secretary-General of ASEAN-China Centre (ACC), Mr. Wang Shengyan, leader of Qujiang New District of Xi’an, representatives of ASEAN Embassies in China, ASEAN film workers, media representatives and over 200 local audiences attended the event.
Secretary-General Yang Xiuping commended that Xi’an was not only a well known historic and cultural city both in China and abroad, the starting point of ancient silk road, but also played an important role in Chinese film industry. The launching of the ASEAN Film Week was intended to build a new platform for ASEAN-China cultural exchanges and enhance mutual understanding and friendship between the peoples. There would be 10 ASEAN films shown to the audience during the Film Week. It was hoped that the audience could learn more about ASEAN culture and film industry by watching these films, and leave with enjoyable and unforgettable memories.
Ms. Nyein Nyein Myint, Counsellor of Myanmar Embassy in China gave remarks on behalf of ASEAN Embassies. She said that Myanmar and China had a long history of cultural exchanges, which had become ever more frequent since the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Currently bilateral cooperation in film industry had been further pushed forward and Myanmar films continued to take part in China’s film festivals. She expected the event would serve as another platform for closer exchanges and cooperation, and contribute to the common development of film industries in ASEAN and China.
Mr. Neo Chee Keong, convener of the ASEAN film delegation and film director of Singapore, expressed his appreciation to ACC for hosting the ASEAN Film Week and showed his film Long Long Time Ago at this special evening. The film was produced to mark Singapore’s 50th anniversary of independence. He hoped the audience could have more knowledge of Singapore’s history of development through this film.
The directors, actors and actresses had interactions with the audience. They were very glad to be invited to participate in the ASEAN Film Week and hoped the Chinese audience could love their films. They also wished to have more exchanges and cooperation with Chinese counterparts. The event had a warm atmosphere with continued applause. The ASEAN films would be shown at major cinemas in Xi’an from 19 September 2016.