Chinese television productions, presented at the inaugural MIP London TV festival, have showcased Chinese culture while targeting the global market.
The London event, scheduled from Feb 23 to 27, has brought together producers, distributors, buyers and commissioners from the global television sector.
Led by China's State Council Information Office and the National Radio and Television Administration (NRTA), the "China Joint Exhibition Stand" at the London event has been organized by Jiangsu Radio and Television International Communication Co., Ltd.
At the "Seeing China" forum on Tuesday, also part of the "China Joint Exhibition Stand", industry insiders from internationally renowned film and television production companies gathered to discuss emerging trends and opportunities for collaboration in documentaries, children's programs and TV dramas.
At the China Pavilion in the main exhibition area by the River Thames, over a dozen Chinese exhibitors showcased nearly 100 television productions, highlighting the richness of Chinese culture and demonstrating the creative achievements and market potential of China's television industry.
The pavilion has drawn more than 300 industry professionals each day, with strong interest from international buyers in the productions on show.
"I really enjoy my collaborations with China, telling stories about China for the wider world. I think the richness of the stories there are to tell, and the energy that comes from the Chinese production community that we work with. We've had a marvelous experience telling a whole range of different stories," said Richard Bradley, Chief Creative Officer at Lion Television.
Since its establishment in 2004, the "China Joint Exhibition Stand" has grown bigger and more influential, bringing together Chinese film and television institutions and enterprises to participate in more than ten international film and television festivals and exhibitions.
Chinese television productions eye global market at London event
U.S. tariffs on Cambodia, which were set at 49 percent, have sparked concerns among the Southeast Asian country's key export industries such as garment manufacturing amid the ensuing economic uncertainties.
On April 2, U.S. President Donald Trump announced the 49 percent "reciprocal tariff" on goods imported from Cambodia, the highest among all countries. Days later, the U.S. reduced the so-called "reciprocal tariff" to 10 percent for 90 days, offering a window period to Cambodia for negotiations with it.
Cambodian businesspeople say the tariffs have the potential to wreak havoc on the country's manufacturing sector, which, according to data from the World Bank, makes up around a fifth of the country's GDP.
"For U.S. manufacturers, definitely, there will be a big impact. If manufacturers are focusing on U.S. products, they are now in the middle. They don't know what they should do at the moment because the tariff now from Cambodia to the U.S. is actually quite high," said Dr. Ben Li, a Hong Kong investor in Cambodia and Chairman of the Cambodia Chinese Commerce Association.
Nevertheless, Li sees the tariff hike as an opportunity to export more Cambodian goods to the European Union, where a majority of Cambodian exports enjoy duty-free status.
"I always say there will be a light (at the end of the tunnel.) Even now, the U.S. tariff is so high, it's going to be so high after 90 days, we don't know. But, there's still a big market to Japan or to the European Union. There's still a big opportunity there," he said.
The Cambodian investor also believes the development of major infrastructure projects will help support Cambodia's economy.
"Especially the new canal and then the new airport, and the railways which connect to China. I believe once the logistics and infrastructure are built up, it can help the whole country's economy. By reducing the transportation costs, it can also mitigate the tariff costs," he said.
Cambodia and the U.S. held their first tariff negotiations on April 16, with more expected to follow. Local experts said the stakes are high for the country's workers.
"If this negotiation fails, there will be a significant impact. It will include the garment and travel goods sector. These sectors consist of about 1,068 factories and 930,000 workers. The income generated from these sectors is about 3 billion dollars per year. So it would significantly impact Cambodia's economy, jobs and incomes," said Chey Tech, a socio-economic research and development consultant from Dynamic Alliance Consulting.
Despite the potential risks, Tech expressed his optimism about a positive outcome, citing Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manat's letter to Trump on April 4.
"The Prime Minister's letter confirmed that Cambodia would reduce the tariff rate for U.S. goods to 5 percent. Second, Cambodia is the least developed country. Third, Cambodia produces goods that the developed countries won't produce. We asked whether the U.S. would be able to produce these low-cost products. It cannot," said Tech.
In 2024, Cambodia exported goods of 9.9 billion dollars to the U.S., making it the country's largest market, accounting for 37 percent of Cambodia's total exports.
49-percent US tariffs sparks worry among Cambodia's key export industries
