Beijing is interested in getting in getting more Indian films screened in China and also to enter into film co-production agreements with India

The Indian Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari held delegation level talks with the visiting Chinese Minister of State Administration for Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Televison Cai Fuchao here on Tuesday over lunch.

Both sides stressed the need for more people-to-people contact.

It has been decided that China would be accorded Principle Guest Country Statusat next year's India International Film Festival at Goa. It will also have a presence at this year's Goa film fest with a selection of classical Chinese films. The decision was taken in view of the Year 2014 being observed as the ‘Year of Exchanges’ between India and China. This is being observed to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the enunciation of Panchsheel or the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence.

The film academies of both countries - the Film and Television Institute of India and the Beijing Film Academy - are to have regular exchange programmes.

'Both felt through enhanced cultural exchanges, exchange in the field of films, of personnel in our public broadcasters and cooperation between our private film industry and the industry in China and regular exchanges between our film institutes will help promote further understanding between our two countries,' said Tewari after the one-and-half hour delegation level talks.

With Bollywood movies - 3 Idiots and My Name is Khan - proving popular in China, both sides held talks to 'relax' the quota of Indian films allowed into China. Beijing is keen on screening classical Hindi films rather than many of the new Bollywood potboilers, sources said.

India and China have formed a joint working group on these proposals.

China allows 10 Hollywood films to be screened every year and New Delhi has asked to allow five Indian films for screening.

With Hindi soaps also proving popular, the Indian side also pushed for 'landing rights' of Indian channels to be able to screen more Hindi serials, sources said.

The Chinese Minister said the visit last month of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has brought about greater consensus between both countries and Tuesday's talks would help give a further fillip to bilateral mutual understanding and cooperation.

During the meeting between the two Ministers, it was also agreed to outline a roadmap to enhance bilateral cooperation in critical sectors of the films and broadcasting. It was reiterated that such a roadmap would enable enhancing people to people contact between the two countries.

Both sides agreed to enhance cooperation and capacity building between personnel of the public broadcasters in both countries, strengthen cultural exchange programmes related to convening of Film Festivals and enhance exchange between the private film industries of both countries. One of the key highlights of the discussion was the decision to enhance student exchange programme between Film Institutes of India and the Beijing Films School.

They also agreed to work out the modalities for strengthening capacity building of technical personnel of Broadcasting Sector

A six-day Chinese film festival also kicked off at Siri Fort here on Tuesday evening with the screening of 'Chinese Zodiac' starring action hero Jackie Chan. The event was jointly inaugurated by the Indian Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari and his visting Chinese counterpart Cai Fuchao.

Speaking on this occasion Tewari said, the time seems to be ripe for intensive sharing of films as a potent medium of exchange.

“I believe that considering the popularity of Indian films in China, that there would be more exposure for Indian films in China in the future, and vice-versa. I am confident that this interaction with the Chinese counterparts would prove to be fruitful and the two countries look forward to agreement on co production in films, as also cooperation in the fields of radio and television An audio visual agreement would not only promote our shooting locations, but will also boost film related tourism between the two countries and hence pave for a more vibrant people to people contact” he said.

Speaking earlier, the Chinese Information Minister said, Chinese movies would offer an opportunity for Indian audiences to be acquainted with Chinese landscape, arts, music and culture. He said that this would also enable citizens of both nations to view India-China relationship from a broader perspective.

The International Film Festival of India is scheduled to be held from November 20 to 30, 2013. The Chinese side may consider facilitating participation of prominent Chinese films with film personalities in the ‘Competition’ and “Cinemas of the World” sections of the festival. Both sides could consider cooperation between Film & Television Institutes of the two countries through exchange programmes of students and faculty.