Fifteen film festival organizers and film agencies from 14 countries taking part in the Belt and Road Initiative signed a memorandum on developing the cooperation mechanism to promote the Belt and Road film culture exchange during the opening ceremony of the 20th Shanghai International Film Festival on June 17.

The signatory parties confirmed their willingness to use films as a carrier to deepen culture and arts communication and exchanges between different countries and to promote learning of different cultural traditions and folk customs.

Zhang Hongsen, deputy head of the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television, said film and culture cooperation between China and countries along the Belt and Road routes stemmed from the Chinese film industry's development and needs to expand overseas.

The Shanghai International Film Festival received 2,528 films from 106 countries and regions, among which nearly half were from participants in the Belt and Road Initiative.

The event was closed on June 25.