Russia Plans to Expand Film Cooperation with China, Minister Says
Russian Minister of Culture Olga Lyubimova announced plans to significantly expand cooperation with China in the film industry, signaling deepening cultural ties between the two nations as bilateral relations continue to strengthen. Speaking at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), held June 3-6, Lyubimova outlined a vision for increased collaboration that builds on an already robust framework of joint productions and cultural exchange.
A Strategic Partnership on Screen
Lyubimova praised China’s film industry as being “at the forefront of the world,” noting its 120,000 cinema screens and massive annual viewership. According to CCTV News, she emphasized that Russian filmmakers are currently working to develop the Chinese market, where obtaining China’s “dragon seal” — a distribution certificate from the China Film Administration — is considered a mark of quality.
“Box office is not the main consideration; Russian films entering the Chinese market is itself a success,” Lyubimova said, as reported by CCTV. The minister also highlighted that Chinese filmmakers value not just economic returns but also the values, morality, and traditions reflected in their scripts — a sentiment that resonates with Russian cultural priorities.
The 2030 Action Plan
The cooperation is underpinned by a strategic Action Plan on film co-production through 2030, signed in May 2025 under the China-Russia Years of Culture framework. The Xinhua News Agency reported that this plan prioritizes joint productions and cross-border film exchanges to deepen cultural ties through cinema.
In a separate interview with China Media Group (CMG) in May, Lyubimova described the document as “a significant strategic document on joint cooperation in the field of cinematography through 2030,” noting China’s “absolutely incredible scale” of 120,000 screens and the “incredible number of viewers who visit cinemas every year with great pleasure,” as reported by Bastille Post.
The May 2026 Joint Statement signed by Presidents Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin during Putin’s state visit to Beijing explicitly commits both nations to deepening film exchanges, including annual film festivals, joint productions, and implementation of the 2030 Action Plan, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China.
From ‘Red Silk’ to ‘Black Silk’
The partnership has already produced tangible results. “Red Silk,” a 2025 Russian-Chinese retro-mystery film directed by Andrey Volgin, became the most successful Russian film overseas in 2025, with a global box office of $1.8 million. Set in 1927 on the Trans-Siberian Railway, the film follows Chinese Communist Party couriers carrying secret documents across Russia. According to Wikipedia, the film is based on real historical events surrounding the 6th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party, held in Moscow in 1928.
Its sequel, “Black Silk,” is currently in production on the outskirts of Moscow. Set in 1930s Shanghai, the film features an international cast from China, Russia, Serbia, Japan, and Germany. Lyubimova described such large-scale international cooperation as “unimaginable a decade ago,” adding that the task now is to “employ modern cinematic language to create emotional resonance for audiences in both countries.”
Screenwriter Maria Nefedova told Xinhua that “Russia and China share a long history of good-neighborly relations. We have faced challenges together, and I hope the film reflects the mutual support between our peoples.” Chinese actress Zheng Hanyi, who appears in both films, described the experience as “a process of cultural exchange. You can feel the two cultures learning from each other.” The film is slated for release in 2027.
Broader Strategic Context
The expansion of film cooperation reflects a broader strategic alignment between Moscow and Beijing. As Western sanctions and geopolitical tensions push the two countries closer together, cultural cooperation serves as both a soft power tool and a practical economic partnership. For Russia’s film industry, which faces limited international distribution opportunities due to sanctions, gaining access to the world’s largest film market is strategically vital.
During a January 2025 meeting between Lyubimova and Shen Haixiong, Head of China Media Group, Shen noted that Russian cinema is gaining sympathy from Chinese audiences while interest in American films is decreasing — a shift that creates new opportunities for Russia-China film cooperation.
What’s Next
With the 2030 Action Plan in place, the successful release of “Red Silk,” and “Black Silk” in production, Russia-China film cooperation appears on a strong trajectory. The annual film festivals and exchange programs will likely accelerate this trend. Lyubimova also noted that both Russian and Chinese audiences enjoy comedies, suggesting that screenwriters from both countries should learn each other’s humor and create joint teams for audiences of all ages. “Black Silk” is expected to be released in 2027, with further joint projects anticipated under the long-term cooperation framework.