Shanghai: The Enchanting City” Event Hosted in Riyadh Highlights Media and Cinema Collaboration

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Riyadh, September 14 – The Information Office of the Shanghai Municipal Government hosted the “Shanghai: The Enchanting City” event on September 12 in Riyadh. This event, focused on promoting Shanghai’s image and fostering audiovisual media exchanges, marked its first-ever occurrence in Saudi Arabia. The timing coincided with the conclusion of the 4th meeting of the Saudi-Chinese Joint High-Level Committee.

The event was attended by Zhang Hua, the Chinese Ambassador to Saudi Arabia; Dr. Abdullah Al-Mubarak, Assistant Undersecretary at the Ministry of Culture; Ma Xiaohong, Deputy Minister of the Propaganda Department of the Shanghai Municipal Party Committee and Chairwoman of the Shanghai International Cultural Communication Association; Chen Yichun, Director of the Information Office of the Shanghai Municipal Government; and Dr. Mazeed Al-Turkawi, Head of Global Partnerships at King Saud University.

In his speech, Chinese Ambassador Zhang Hua emphasized the deepening relationship between China and Saudi Arabia, driven by the leadership of both nations. He reiterated China’s commitment to enhancing cultural and humanitarian cooperation with Saudi Arabia across various fields. Zhang highlighted Shanghai’s status as a major cultural and historical hub, as well as a global tourist destination. He also noted that the Saudi Pavilion at the 2010 Shanghai World Expo continues to symbolize the enduring friendship between the two nations.

The event also featured a photo exhibition showcasing life in Shanghai and exclusive screenings of documentary films premiering for the first time globally. Additionally, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the Documentary Film Center of the Shanghai Radio and Television Station, the Chinese-Arabic Channel, and Aden TV. The agreement aims to bring acclaimed documentaries from Shanghai, covering topics such as urban renewal, underwater archaeology, nature conservation, and human geography, to Middle Eastern audiences. These works have garnered numerous international awards.

A “Saudi-Chinese Audiovisual Media Salon” was also held during the event, providing filmmakers, producers, and audiovisual industry leaders with the opportunity to explore potential collaborations in joint film production and participation in film festivals, furthering cultural exchange between the two countries.