Performance of traditional Russian dances at the opening ceremony. Photo: Lin Xiaoyi/GT

The opening ceremony of the Russian Film Week was successfully held in Beijing on Monday, marking the official start of a week-long exhibition of Russian films. Russian Ambassador to China, Andrey Denisov, said at the opening ceremony that he believes that the event will help to further develop Russian-Chinese cooperation in humanities and military patriotism and will make Russian films more popular in China.

This year's Russian Film Week is being held in Beijing from September 6 to 10, as well as in Changsha, capital of Central China's Hunan Province, from September 8 to 12. The event showcases six representative works of Russian anti-fascism including: The Last Frontier, T-34, Frontier, The Match, Hill 89 and Zoya.

"This year's Russian Film Week is very meaningful, as the common memory of Russia and China fighting against the fascist aggression side by side will surely be passed on from generation to generation, between the people of both countries, and will last forever," Li Hui, the special representative of the Chinese government for Eurasian Affairs and former Chinese ambassador to Russia, said at the opening ceremony.

Li noted that this year marks the 76th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against the Japanese Aggression (1931-1945) and the World Anti-Fascist War. China and Russia were the main battlefields of that war in Asia and Europe, respectively, and the people of both countries completely defeated the aggression of Japanese militarism and Nazi Germany with their indomitable will and heroic struggle. This was a victory for the two peoples and a common triumph for world peace.

"China has always been committed to safeguarding the victory of World War II and upholding historical truth. At a time when some people are still trying to deny history, it is important for our two countries to learn from history and blaze a new trail for the future," Li stressed, adding that China and Russia should always be builders of world peace, contributors to global development and maintainers of international order by setting an example of good-neighborly and friendly cooperation between major powers, and make greater contributions to the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind.

"Both Russia and China suffered huge casualties and material losses during the Anti-Fascist War. Our two countries cherish the memory of that war and will never forget the feats of those who fought against evil," Denisov said, adding that "in those distant years, Russia and China established a true military brotherhood, and today the soldiers of our two countries are continuing this tradition."

Denisov also noted that Russians developed a separate genre of military films as early as the late 1950s with the theme of the Great Patriotic War particularly prominent in the country's cinema. He hopes that the films shown during this week's event will resonate with Chinese audiences. "I believe for our Chinese friends, the theme of fighting for their country's freedom is also close to their hearts," he added.

The success of the Russian Film Week will further promote the practical cooperation between China and Russia in this field, writing a new chapter for the exchanges and mutual appreciation between Chinese and Russian civilizations and the traditional friendship between the two peoples, said Bai Yimin, Deputy Director of the China Film Administration.

The Russian Embassy in China noted that in recent years, with the joint efforts of both sides, China and Russia have held regular film festivals in each other's countries and conducted film exchanges and cooperation in various fields, injecting new vitality into the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for the new era.

After watching the opening film, The Last Frontier, Zhu Yuke, Executive Director of the Russian Overseas Chinese Youth Federation, told the Global Times that Russia has always been a nation that worships heroes, and he was moved by Russia's continuous improvement in historical war films to remind the younger generation of its past and its mission.

"In this respect China and Russia are exactly the same. This film event highlights the friendship between Russia and China and allows us all to reflect on history,reflect on war and cherish peace," Zhu said.

Group photo of the guests at the Russian Film Week. Photo: Lin Xiaoyi/GT