China-Iran co-produced documentary premieres in Xi'an

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The China-Iran co-produced documentary "The Tale of Pomegranate" made its China premiere on Wednesday at the 11th Silk Road International Film Festival in Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province.

The pomegranate flower, Xi'an's city flower, was introduced to China from Iran during the Han Dynasty (202 BC-AD 220). Serving as the eastern starting point of the ancient Silk Road, Xi'an occupies a unique position in the 1,500-year history of political, economic, and cultural exchanges between China and Iran.   Centered around the pomegranate, the documentary explores the intrinsic relationship between Xi'an and Isfahan in Iran, the cities that established a sister city relationship as early as 1989. Through the perspectives of a Chinese documentary filmmaker and an Iranian history professor, the film follows their journey across famous landmarks and modern architectural landscapes in both cities.   At the intersection of tradition and modernity, the documentary intertwines the historical heritage and spiritual commonalities shared between China and Iran. It also provides a fresh perspective that enhances the understanding of the history and modernity of both Xi'an and Isfahan.

"What I find truly remarkable is that despite spanning thousands of kilometers, we are still able to maintain such close connections and friendships. This brings me immense joy, and I hope that this is just the beginning, not the final instance. I look forward to even more cooperation between us in the future," said Mohammad Hossein Latifi, producer of the documentary.   "The new project that we're working now with China is 'The Transformative Power of Paper', which is about how paper spread from China to West Asia, specifically in Iran, and then underwent transformation, leading to various types of cultural transmission," said Khashayar Mahmoodabadi, director of the documentary.   This year's Silk Road International Film Festival, held from Saturday to Wednesday, serves as a platform to boost cultural exchanges among countries along the Belt and Road routes, offering valuable insights into the customs, traditions, and cultures of these countries.   For over the past 11 years, cultural officials and film industry professionals from over 50 countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, such as Russia, India, France, and Italy, have actively participated in the festival.   "The Silk Road International Film Festival has already been held for 11 editions, showcasing a collection of films that engage in international exchanges. Despite being a narrative about China, this film is presented with an international perspective. The Silk Road International Film Festival provides a platform for us to present this story, facilitating more effective dissemination of Chinese stories," said Duan Peng, Chinese producer of the documentary.

China-Iran co-produced documentary premieres in Xi'an

Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib stated on Thursday that Israeli attacks are threatening Lebanon's existence and called for urgent international intervention to prevent the situation from escalating.

Bou Habib called for a ceasefire during the General Debate of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

"Lebanon is currently enduring a crisis which is threatening its very existence. The future of our people and our prosperity are imperiled. This is a situation that requires international intervention on an urgent basis before the situation spirals out of control, with a domino effect, making this crisis impossible to contain," he said.

The foreign minister also condemned a series of recent attacks by Israel on Hezbollah members in Lebanon, including the incidents involving explosions of communication devices such as pagers and walkie-talkies, resulting in numerous casualties, including children and women.

Tensions along the Lebanon-Israel border have escalated since October 8, 2023, when Hezbollah launched rockets into Israel in solidarity with Hamas' attack the previous day. Israel retaliated with heavy artillery fire toward southern Lebanon.

The Israel-Hezbollah tensions have grown even worse after the deadly back-to-back attacks targeting Hezbollah members in Lebanon -- with pagers simultaneously exploding across the country on September 17, 2024, then walkie-talkies detonating in a similar fashion the next day. Hezbollah has blamed Israel for the attacks, while Israel has made no response to the charge.

At least 37 people, including children, have been killed in the attacks. Thousands more were injured -- many maimed and in critical condition after communications devices exploded in their pockets or in their face.

Lebanese FM condemns Israeli attacks, calls for int'l intervention