On September 17, the Tbilisi Chinese Film Festival, jointly hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Georgia, China Film Administration and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth of Georgia, held its opening ceremony at National Archive Cinema Hall. The ceremony was attended by about 140 people, including Ambassador Zhou Qian, Chairperson of the Culture Committee of the Georgian Parliament Eliso Bolkvadze, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth Irakli Giviashvili, Chinese delegation headed by Deputy Director General of China Film Administration Bai Yimin, sinologists, representatives of media, Chinese enterprises in Georgia and international students.

Ambassador Zhou Qian said in his speech that this Chinese film festival is the first offline Chinese cultural event held in Tbilisi since the Covid-19 pandemic. In March this year, Chinese President Xi Jinping put forward the Global Civilization Initiative, advocating the strengthening of people-to-people exchanges and cooperation, and the promotion of mutual learning and mutual appreciation among different civilizations. In July, President Xi Jinping met with Prime Minister Garibashvili in Chengdu, and the two sides reached an important consensus on upgrading China-Georgia relations to a strategic partnership and deepening cooperation in various fields. China is willing to take this film festival as an opportunity to promote mutual cultural understanding between China and Georgia and between the two peoples, and jointly implement the Global Civilization Initiative.

Deputy Minister Givashvili said that Prime Minister Garibashvili successfully visited China in July and reached important consensus on the establishment of a strategic partnership with China, deepening cooperation in people-to-people and various fields. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth attaches great importance to the promotion of China-Georgia film exchanges, and has participated in film festivals in Beijing, Shanghai and other places and won awards. The Ministry will do its best to present the Chinese Film Festival and promote the deepening of cultural exchanges between Georgia and China.

The movie “Home Coming” was screened after the opening ceremony. The lead actor Zhang Yi had a exchange with the audience in the cinema.