Mr Cong Song, Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, has underscored film as a powerful medium for promoting cultural understanding and strengthening ties between peoples.
He said films could transcend language and geographical barriers, resonate with audiences from different cultural backgrounds and provide a window into other societies.
Mr Cong made the remarks at the opening of the Chinese Film Festival at Silverbird Cinema, Accra Mall, held as part of the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges.
The festival opened with a screening of The Wandering Earth II, a Chinese science-fiction film which the Ambassador said underscored humanity’s responsibility to confront common challenges through unity and cooperation.
He said the film demonstrated the production standards and technological development of China’s film industry while conveying the message that, “in times of crisis, responsibility is all that matters.”
“It reminds us that when faced with common challenges, all nations should set aside differences, join hands, and overcome difficulties together,” he said.
Mr Cong said the film’s central theme of collective responsibility reflected the philosophy underpinning China-Africa cooperation and people-to-people exchanges.
Released in 2023 and directed by Frant Gwo, The Wandering Earth II is a prequel to the 2019 film The Wandering Earth, based on the science-fiction universe created by Chinese writer Liu Cixin.
The 173-minute film depicts a future in which the Sun poses an existential threat to life on Earth, prompting humanity to develop a plan to move the planet away from the Solar System using thousands of gigantic engines.
The film features Chinese actors Wu Jing and Li Xuejian, with a special appearance by Hong Kong actor Andy Lau.
Mr Cong said 2026 had been designated the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges following an important consensus among Chinese and African leaders.
He said the initiative sought to deepen friendship, promote mutual learning among civilisations and strengthen understanding between the peoples of China and Africa.
Nearly 600 cultural and people-to-people exchange activities were expected to be held during the year, covering intellectual exchanges, youth engagement, practical cooperation and green development.
Mr Cong said people-to-people exchanges remained an important source of strength for China-Africa friendship and were aimed at bringing together the hearts, emotions and aspirations of more than 2.8 billion people.
He said six Chinese films had been selected for the festival, covering genres including science fiction, historical drama, animation and martial arts.
The films, Mr Cong said, reflected China’s cultural traditions and developments in its film industry.
“Through this festival, we hope our Ghanaian friends will have the opportunity to step into China, understand China, and feel China through the silver screen,” he said.
Mr Ivan Quashigah, Board Chairman of the National Film Authority, described film as a powerful tool for connecting people.
He said many Ghanaians had grown up watching Chinese films in the 1970s and 1980s, which provided audiences with an early glimpse into Chinese culture, history and storytelling.
Those films, he said, helped create a cultural bridge between Ghana and China.
Mr Quashigah said the festival provided an opportunity to deepen cooperation between the two countries in the film and creative industries and encouraged greater collaboration among filmmakers.
He expressed the belief that China could become an important partner in exploring sustainable ways of expanding film exhibition and access across Ghana.
Source:GNA
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