The hugely popular Chinese animation movie "Ne Zha 2" has been captivating moviegoers in New Zealand, with many viewers saying it has even aroused their interest in making a trip to China.
The film has shattered numerous box office records since its release on the Chinese mainland during the recent Chinese New Year, and it has already surpassed Disney's 2024 picture "Inside Out 2" to become the highest-grossing animated movie of all time.
Since being released in New Zealand on Feb. 13, the movie has also been attracting film fans who have been impressed by its cutting-edge presentation and entertaining tale based on ancient Chinese mythology.
In the capital Wellington, residents all of ages have been enjoying the charm of Chinese movies.
"I watched the movie 'Ne Zha' and I felt very happy after it. Today I went to a face painting place and I chose to be a Chinese princess. I think China is beautiful. I want to go to China," said a young girl named Emily.
"I like some of the Chinese movies I saw. Some of them are comedies, the comedies I like too. And some are action [films]. It's a good movie. I like it. I'd like to go to China to visit, to visit [the country] and the Chinese people," said Sam, a resident.
"I've always been very interested in Chinese culture, so I'm looking forward to learning a bit more and seeing something new. I know it's very popular. So, it's exciting," said another resident named Zayn.
Others say they enjoyed experiencing the philosophical ideas and depiction of traditional Chinese culture in the movie, which charts the story of a rebellious boy-god from Chinese folklore.
"I really like when they go into the history of Chinese movies. And some of the Chinese movies again from quite a while ago, they go into Taoism that I like. The philosophy of Chinese culture is a little more pragmatic. They're a little bit more down to earth and a little bit more focused on doing a good job now," said a resident named Mike.
"The culture is transmitted through film and Chinese culture is ancient and wise and is an example for the rest of the world at this time," said another local called Paul.
"I think an understanding of Chinese culture is essential to a closer understanding between our two peoples. The more we understand and appreciate each other's cultures, the better we understand how to cooperate together," said Chris Lipscombe, the National President of the New Zealand China Friendship Society.
Film fans in New Zealand charmed by Chinese culture as hit animation makes waves
Many Chinese logistics companies are ramping up their shipments for the U.S. market following the latest round of mutual tariff adjustments between China and the United States.
China and the United States announced in Geneva on Monday a series of tariff modification measures aimed at easing trade tensions between the world's two largest economies.
The decision followed a two-day China-U.S. high-level meeting on economic and trade affairs, where both sides recognized the importance of their bilateral economic and trade relationship to both countries and the global economy, a joint statement said, noting that both sides emphasized the need for a sustainable, long-term and mutually beneficial economic and trade relationship.
The latest measures have driven up the businesses of shipping companies in Shenzhen City, in south China's Guangdong Province.
In a freight forwarding company in Shenzhen, the manager said that U.S. clients are experiencing shortages of supplies and are pressuring them to expedite shipments on the next available vessels. The staff members are busy organizing export release documents, with stacks of paperwork for shipments to ports in Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago.
"Since the afternoon of May 12, our shipment volume has increased by 40 percent. By June, it should at least be doubled compared to now," said Fu Shengying, deputy general manager of Guangdong Branch of WorldEx Group.
Fuwei Community in Bao'an District, Shenzhen, is an important hub for cross-border e-commerce logistics. Recent data shows that the average daily export shipment volume here has increased by 14 percent over the past three days compared to May 11.
In another logistics company specializing in cross-border e-commerce, orders from U.S. clients have also surged. According to the company, these clients are facing low inventory and need to restock immediately. Over the past few days, the company has received more orders than during the same period in the previous years.
The company manager noted that the surge in order volume has led to increased demand for container ships. Consequently, some shipping companies are starting to adjust their capacity allocation on a global scale.
"Many shipowners had previously adjusted their capacity, but now that a large volume of cargo is suddenly coming in, there is a shortage of capacity. Consequently, freight rates are rising rapidly. Despite this, many clients are still very eager to ship their goods," said Luo Rong, general manager of Shenzhen Branch of Dewell Group.
Yantian Port in Shenzhen is the busiest shipping hub in South China for routes between China and the United States, handling over a quarter of the country's exports to the United States. To meet the surge in demand from U.S. clients, Yantian Port is now scheduling six daily sailings to the United States.
The port staff said that they have recently received inquiries from several shipping companies and are coordinating berth arrangements and schedules. They are prioritizing vessels for U.S. routes at Yantian Port.
Summer is the traditional Christmas ordering season in the United States, and due to previous export suspensions, American sellers' inventories have been declining and urgently need restocking. As a result, demand for Chinese goods is expected to keep rising in the near future.
Chinese logistics enterprises ramp up shipments after China-US tariff adjustment
