--- special documentary series "China Visionaries"

International Channel Shanghai, under Shanghai Media Group, officially launched the special documentary series China Visionaries, to be broadcast every Sunday starting from September 27 at 8:00-9:00pm (20:00-21:00) exclusively on ICS.

Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, many international participants have contributed greatly to China's development and success, breaking past barriers between countries and cultures, leading the way for future generations, and forming genuine friendships with the Chinese people.

The Press Conference held in Xintiandi on Sep.22,2009

To celebrate the People's Republic of China's 60th Anniversary, International Channel Shanghai interviewed 10 renowned international figures: Henry Kissinger, Juan Antonio Samaranch, Nakasone Yasuhiro, Jean-Pierre Raffarin, Robert Hawke, Igor Rogachev, Stephen Perry, Wolfgang Kubin, Uli Sigg, and Robert Kuhn, for a 10-episode documentary series special. The China Visionaries series explores the prominent roles they played in the historical events of China over the past 60 years, revealing extraordinary personal accounts and shedding light to the deep connections they hold with China.

China Visionaries also looks back at the development of the People's Republic of China with a fresh and unique approach. The program's narration unfolds from a retrospective and documental angle, focusing on the personal stories behind historic events, and interviews key Chinese and global insiders who have witnessed and actively participated in the events that shaped the nation's history. With these multiple and varied accounts comes a more distinct, comprehensive and accurate picture of the events and personalities that cast profound influences on China's development.

Linking past glories with present-day realities, China Visionaries covers all narrative bases. From the grand accomplishments of their careers and dreams to the warm modesty of their everyday lives, the documentary series reveals the personal complexities that make up these 10 extraordinary individuals, creating new understanding of their characters and the roles they played against distinct historical backgrounds.

China Visionaries is not only dedicated to the 60th Anniversary of the People's Republic of China but also serves as an important historical resource from which to study the modern-day history of the country.

The China Visionaries series was produced by ICS's in-house production team, with assistance from foreign affairs experts and senior documentary directors. During the course of production, the team received generous help from Shanghai Media Group and International Channel Shanghai's support staff.

The documentary production project was formally launched in February 2009. After several months of pre-production research, scheduling and planning, in-depth interview appointments were arranged with the 10 key individuals. During the production process, the production team overcame many challenges, such as barriers in communication, negotiation and filming. The crew set off simultaneously in separate filming groups, working at rapid pace over short lengths of time to meet tight filming schedules, both overseas and domestic. Covering almost ten countries, including the United States, France, Russia, Japan, Spain, Australia, Germany and Switzerland, the team shot and edited with HD equipment (the most advanced television technology). Preliminary shooting of China Visionaries wrapped up at the beginning of September 2009. China Visionaries broadcasts:

Every Sunday, starting from September 27
8:00pm - 9:00pm (20:00 - 21:00) on International Channel Shanghai

Stay tuned for the launch of the China Visionaries book and related audio/visual products, occurring in mid-November 2009.

International Channel Shanghai (ICS) is the premiere foreign language channel broadcast from Shanghai and is part of the Shanghai Media Group family. Airing in English and Japanese with Chinese subtitles, ICS covers news, information, sports, travel, entertainment, fashion, arts and culture, as well as imported shows and movies. Programs are produced in a wide variety of formats that include news and information programs, documentary series, talk shows, entertainment features, high drama, and movies. In addition to its television audiences, which include more than 150,000 foreign nationals, along with millions of Shanghai English-speakers and well-educated residents, about 4.4 million Internet subscribers can also watch the programs on their computers through Internet Protocol Television.