Chinese Ambassador to Madagascar Ji Ping (L) and Secretary-General of Madagascar's Ministry of Communication and Culture Miary Rasolofoarijaona cut the ribbon during the opening ceremony of the 2026 China Film Festival in Antananarivo, capital of Madagascar, March 8, 2026. Madagascar launched the 2026 China Film Festival on Sunday in the capital of Antananarivo, with nearly 100 guests attending the opening ceremony. The festival, which runs until March 15 and features the screening of six Chinese films, is expected to strengthen mutual understanding between China and Madagascar, while promoting people-to-people and cultural exchanges between the two countries. (Photo by Sitraka Rajaonarison/Xinhua)

ANTANANARIVO, March 8 (Xinhua) -- Madagascar launched the 2026 China Film Festival on Sunday in the capital of Antananarivo, with nearly 100 guests attending the opening ceremony.

At the ceremony, Secretary-General of Madagascar's Ministry of Communication and Culture Miary Rasolofoarijaona expressed his deep gratitude for the organization of "this unprecedented festival," held as part of activities celebrating the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges.

"The China Film Festival is a concrete illustration of the willingness to bring our hearts and minds closer together through the power of images and shared stories," he said, adding that the festival will enable Malagasy audiences to discover the richness, modernity and depth of Chinese culture.

Chinese Ambassador to Madagascar Ji Ping said the continuous deepening of people-to-people and cultural exchanges between China and Africa carries paradigmatic significance that transcends the bilateral framework, especially in the current global context marked by divisions caused by geopolitical conflicts.

"Let us seize the opportunity of this film festival to make the cultures of our two countries shine on the global stage," he said.

Zhang Xuxia, deputy director of the China Film Archive, said in a video address that the themes and styles of Chinese films have become increasingly diverse, while the unique charm of Malagasy films and other cultural works has been widely appreciated.

"We are convinced that Chinese and Malagasy filmmakers can inspire each other and generate new ideas, so that more works can be seen, understood and appreciated by audiences in both countries," she said.

The 2026 China Film Festival, which runs until March 15 and features the screening of six Chinese films, is expected to strengthen mutual understanding between China and Madagascar, while promoting people-to-people and cultural exchanges between the two countries. ■

People attend the opening ceremony of the 2026 China Film Festival in Antananarivo, capital of Madagascar, on March 8, 2026.

Madagascar launched the 2026 China Film Festival on Sunday in the capital of Antananarivo, with nearly 100 guests attending the opening ceremony.

The festival, which runs until March 15 and features the screening of six Chinese films, is expected to strengthen mutual understanding between China and Madagascar, while promoting people-to-people and cultural exchanges between the two countries. (Photo by Sitraka Rajaonarison/Xinhua)

Secretary-General of Madagascar's Ministry of Communication and Culture Miary Rasolofoarijaona speaks at the opening ceremony of the 2026 China Film Festival in Antananarivo, capital of Madagascar, March 8, 2026.

Madagascar launched the 2026 China Film Festival on Sunday in the capital of Antananarivo, with nearly 100 guests attending the opening ceremony.

The festival, which runs until March 15 and features the screening of six Chinese films, is expected to strengthen mutual understanding between China and Madagascar, while promoting people-to-people and cultural exchanges between the two countries. (Photo by Sitraka Rajaonarison/Xinhua)