China starts filming drama series in Cambodia

China began Tuesday to produce a television drama series in Cambodia with an aim to promote the country's tourism and culture to the Chinese people. The film, titled"Love is Brave", will depict a selfless, heart- breaking and touching love story involving a couple cast by renowned Chinese actor Huang Haibo and actress Zhang Jingchu, said a press statement released at the production launching. The urban emotional 30-episode love drama is being produced by Beijing Jinyi Celebration Cultural Promotion Company and directed by famous director Cao Dun, the statement said. "The production house had chosen culturally rich Cambodia as overseas location for story scenes where the characters meet and fall in love,"it said. Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Cabinet Minister Sok An said the drama series would be shot at the ancient Angkor Wat temple, a world heritage site. "This project clearly shows Cambodia's favorable conditions for international film productions,"he said at the production launching. The drama series will be screened by Hunan TV, the national TV channel with full coverage in China. According to Sok An, Chinese producer Kiang Ming made a movie titled"Smile of Angkor"at the Angkor Wat temple last year. Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Bu Jianguo said it was a milestone for cultural relations and cooperation between China and Cambodia. "Through the drama, Chinese will better understand about Cambodian culture and people's lives,"she said."I have confidence that more Chinese people will visit Cambodia after they have watched this movie." The film project was initiated by the ASEAN-China Center, aiming at promoting cultural ties between China and Cambodia and encouraging more Chinese to visit Cambodia, said Ma Mingqiang, secretary general of ASEAN-China Center. Yuan Hui, chairman of Beijing Jinyi Celebration Cultural Promotion Company, said the film would provide a golden chance for Cambodia to showcase its cultural traditions, customs and beautiful landscape to more than 1 billion people in China and people in other Asian countries. Cambodian Tourism Minister Thong Khon said a team of some 100 actors and crew would spend one month in filming in Cambodia. They would continue to shoot in Beijing to complete the story.