ADDIS ABABA — The first China-Ethiopia Film and TV Festival was held recently in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, with the aim of promoting cultural exchange among the BRICS member states through collaboration in the film industry.

The groundbreaking event marked the establishment of a new partnership between China and Ethiopia in the creative industry with a special focus on the exchange of films, strengthening cross-cultural exchange, and sharing knowledge, technology, and experience.

Speaking at the event, Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia Chen Hai said as ancient civilizations, both China and Ethiopia have long histories, rich cultures, and diverse ethnic customs, as well as beautiful landscapes, that can potentially be used in the production of films, dramas, and TV shows.

The two countries have enjoyed a long history of cooperation, mainly in the fields of construction, infrastructure development and manufacturing.

Shibru Mamo, director general for Public Diplomacy at Ethiopia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, emphasized the significance of the festival in strengthening people-to-people relations among BRICS member states through media.

"This festival also represents the strong, historic partnership between Ethiopia and China, a relationship that is continuously growing in scope and depth in economic, political, infrastructure and cultural collaborations," Mamo says.

The three-day festival featured 12 Chinese and Ethiopian films and documentaries. The documentary film The Road to Prosperity, which highlights China's transformative development, focusing on the hard work, resilience and commitment to growth of its people, was presented at the festival's opening ceremony.