On April 26, the first-ever China Film Festival in Pakistan opened at Lahore’s Universal Cinema Emporium Mall. The festival was hosted by the Chinese Consulate, China National Film Administration and Information and Culture Department of the Punjab government, and co-hosted by the China Film Archive and the Institute of International Relations and Media Research. The ceremony was graced by the presence of Zhao Shiren, consul general of China, and Azma Bokhari, Pakistani Information and Culture Minister among others.

In his opening remarks, Consul General Zhao Shiren highlighted President Xi Jinping’s 2015 state visit to Pakistan as a milestone that elevated bilateral ties and launched the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. He emphasized the Chinese Film Festival’s role in deepening cultural exchange and expressed hope that Pakistani audiences would gain a richer, more authentic understanding of China through film.

In her remarks, Minister Azma Bukhari emphasized that the China Film Festival is not only a celebration of cinema, but also a powerful symbol of the deepening friendship between the two nations. She expressed hope that both sides would seize this opportunity to further strengthen cooperation in film and cultural exchange.

The two-day film festival, held from April 26 to 27, showcased five acclaimed Chinese films: The Wandering Earth, The Wandering Earth II, My People, My Country, The Battle at Lake Changjin, and Great Love Dunhuang. The Wandering Earth opened the festival to an enthusiastic audience and received an overwhelmingly positive response. The successful staging of the event was made possible through the generous support of China UnionPay. As a globally recognized payment brand with full acceptance in Pakistan, UnionPay is also committed to supporting the global outreach of Chinese cinema.

(Translated by Luo Desai)