Brave new worldview

A scene from the TV series Beijing Youth, one of three Chinese productions that President Xi Jinping gifted in DVDs to Argentine Vice-President Amado Boudou. Photos provided to China Daily

China's film and TV producers are taking some of their best work abroad, with a boost from the country's top leader. Industry experts tell Wang Kaihao how they hope to overcome barriers of language, culture and audience expectations.

While American, British and South Korean TV shows have become a staple of after-dinner conversations among urban Chinese youths, Chinese productions are being prepared with less fanfare for distribution abroad.

During his visit to Mongolia last week, President Xi Jinping announced that China would provide Mongolia with 25 translated versions of outstanding Chinese films and TV shows for free in the next five years. So far, no institution has been reported to have begun translating the 25 productions.

It was not the first push on this front by the State leader. Xi presented three DVDs - two Chinese TV series and one feature film - as national gifts to Argentina's vice-president Amado Boudou in July.

"There were other similar agreements reached between governments," says Luo Xubing, deputy marketing director of China Radio International's film and TV translation center. "It will take some time to realize the agreement and go through the process of getting broadcast licenses overseas."

Luo discloses that last year CRI dubbed with audio 80 films and TV shows into multiple languages (Swahili versions for Tanzania, for example), and they are ready to be exported. Major markets include African countries such as Tanzania, Senegal and Nigeria, as well as those in Southeast Asia.