
Local Blockbusters Push China's Box Office To Record US$4 Billion In First Half
During the same period, the number of moviegoers increased to 641 million, a 16.89 percent rise from the previous year, according to the data released by the National Film Administration on Tuesday.
Domestic films accounted for 91.2 percent of the total earnings, playing an increasingly important role in the world's largest film market, data shows.
'Ne Zha 2,' a domestic blockbuster that has amassed 15.45 billion yuan on the Chinese mainland in 2025, tops the Chinese box office chart as the most-watched and highest-grossing film ever in China. Related

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The Star
33 minutes ago
- The Star
Vincent Zhao shares family photos, 17YO daughter stuns netizens with good looks
Chinese actor Vincent Zhao recently marked his eldest daughter Rosita's (1st from left) high school graduation by sharing a series of rare family photos. Photos: Vincent Zhao/Instagram Chinese martial arts star Vincent Zhao recently celebrated his eldest daughter Rosita's high school graduation. In a Weibo post on Wednesday (July 2), Zhao, 53, congratulated Rosita, 17, on reaching a milestone and expressed pride in her accomplishments, which include awards in biology and the arts, as well as the Highest Achievement prize. He also gave a shoutout to his younger son Zilong, 13, for receiving an academic award, adding that their successes have inspired their youngest sister Luna, nine. 'I applaud your hard work. Keep it up,' the actor wrote in the captions. Zhao's post was accompanied by a series of rare family photos from the graduation ceremony, but it was Rosita's striking visuals that really grabbed netizens' attention. Many praised her for inheriting her parents' good looks and for carrying herself with grace. A photo of (from left) Zilong, Luna and Rosita at the latter's graduation ceremony. 'Rosita has grown to be so tall and beautiful,' one netizen commented. Another said: 'Rosita looks very elegant.' 'It's amazing. The whole family is good looking. The genes are too powerful,' added a third. Zhao – best known for portraying the Chinese folk hero Wong Fei-hung in Once Upon A Time In China IV (1993) and its 1994 sequel – has an older son Joseph, 22, from a previous relationship. He married Chinese actress Zhang Danlu, now 45, in 2006 and went on to have three children with her.


The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
Interview: Former Italian senator sees robust potential for stronger Italy-China ties
ROME, July 3 (Xinhua) -- Former Italian Senator Manuel Vescovi emphasized the potential for enhanced Italy-China cooperation in economic and cultural fields, describing such collaboration as "a gateway to tremendous opportunities." In a recent interview with Xinhua, Vescovi, who served on Italy's Senate Foreign Affairs Committee from 2018 to 2022, urged Italian enterprises to engage with China's dynamic market proactively. "China's market is enormous and still expanding," he said, noting that China has remained Italy's largest Asian trade partner, with bilateral trade reaching 72.54 billion U.S. dollars in 2024. Highlighting particular areas of opportunity such as renewable energy, automotive manufacturing, and agri-food exports, Vescovi said Italy's renowned expertise aligns well with China's market demands. Marking the 55th anniversary of China-Italy diplomatic relations in 2025, he underscored the historic cultural exchanges spanning over two millennia. "We should leverage these historical bonds to propel our partnership to new heights," he said. Recent high-level visits, including those by Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to China, have led to a new three-year cooperation agreement through 2027, focusing on green technology, advanced manufacturing, and cultural exchanges. Vescovi firmly believes in the value of grassroots diplomacy. "It's important to start from the local level rather than relying solely on high-level summits," he said. As an example, he recently led a delegation from Grosseto, Tuscany, to Nanping in China's Fujian Province, initiating a sister-city partnership. During the visit, the two cities signed an agreement and hosted forums on trade, tourism, and education exchanges. By June 2025, Italy and China had established 90 sister-city pairings, which Vescovi sees as essential platforms for tangible and consistent cooperation. During his visit, Vescovi was particularly impressed by China's technological achievements, citing an advanced automobile factory capable of producing a car every 76 seconds as "an incredible engineering achievement." He also toured factories producing eco-friendly bamboo products, highlighting a Fujian-based company keen on opening a branch in Italy, a direct outcome of the sister-city relationship. "Local partnerships foster concrete results through business matchmaking," he noted, emphasizing the need for sustained and consistent engagement. Looking forward, Vescovi is optimistic about the future of Italy-China relations. He envisions scenarios where Italian cities like Grosseto become popular destinations for Chinese tourists, and Chinese tech startups collaborate with Italian artisans. "China has so much to offer, and so do we," he remarked, emphasizing mutual learning opportunities. Specifically, he suggested that Italy could benefit from China's successful territorial marketing and sustainable practices, while China could leverage Italy's expertise in design, high-end manufacturing, and agri-food. Stressing the importance of ongoing cultural exchanges alongside economic collaboration, Vescovi called for regular delegations, student exchanges, and joint cultural initiatives. "Only by being culturally and economically open can we genuinely thrive together," he said, reflecting the enduring legacy of Marco Polo's historic journey, which continues to inspire the strengthening of contemporary Italy-China ties.


The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
Kenya launches second phase of China-sponsored youth coding initiative
NAIROBI, July 3 (Xinhua) -- Kenya on Thursday launched the second phase of a youth coding initiative supported by CODEMAO, a Chinese online education platform, in partnership with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The launch event marked the beginning of the initiative's second phase, which will run from 2025 to 2030. The program aims to enhance digital literacy among adolescent learners across the country. Julius Bitok, principal secretary in the Ministry of Education, said Kenya is the first country in Africa to launch the second phase of the UNESCO-CODEMAO coding initiative for youth, as part of its efforts to build a digital, interconnected and inclusive future. "To prepare our youth for the jobs and challenges of tomorrow, we must invest in digital skills today. We support initiatives that foster innovation, digital literacy, and 21st-century competencies," Bitok said. Kenya was among the African countries, including Namibia and the Republic of the Congo, that implemented the first phase of the UNESCO-CODEMAO youth coding initiative from 2022 to 2024, aimed at enhancing coding and artificial intelligence (AI) skills among students and teachers. During the first phase, junior secondary school students and their teachers received devices and hands-on training in various aspects of coding and AI, culminating in the award of certificates of recognition. Four outstanding pupils and one teacher will participate in a week-long study tour to the southeastern Chinese city of Shenzhen from July 9 to 16, where they will visit technology companies and engage with Chinese culture. Activities planned for the second phase include online training and mentorship designed to strengthen the coding and AI capabilities of students and teachers. UNESCO's Regional Director for Eastern Africa Louise Haxthausen said the partnership with CODEMAO has played a key role in introducing Kenyan learners to digital tools, including AI. During the second phase, students will be provided with tablets and both theoretical and practical lessons to help them harness coding and AI for innovation and leadership in the technology sector. CODEMAO Chief Executive Officer Tianchi Li said in a video message that the organization is committed to supporting Kenya's digital transformation by investing in infrastructure, training, mentorship, and exposing young learners to cutting-edge technologies.