Shanghai unveiled its 8K ecological documentary Dongtan: Home of Birds in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Sept 12 as part of the "Charm of Shanghai" event series organized by the Shanghai Municipal Government Information Office. This event marks the first time the "Charm of Shanghai" series has been held in Saudi Arabia, coinciding with the recent conclusion of the Fourth Meeting of the High-Level Chinese-Saudi Joint Committee.

The event featured a variety of activities, including the global premiere of the 8K documentary, a Shanghai creative art exhibition, a Shanghai documentary screening, and a China-Saudi media audiovisual salon, all aimed at showcasing the appeal of Shanghai.

Chinese Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Chang Hua, noted the growing ties between the two nations, highlighting China's recent inclusion of Saudi Arabia as an approved destination for group tourism and the launch of direct flights by multiple airlines. This event, he added, will encourage more Saudi people to visit Shanghai for tourism and business opportunities.

The premiere of the 8-minute teaser for Dongtan: Home of Birds, produced by the Shanghai Media Group Documentary Center, captured the lives of migratory birds in Chongming Dongtan, Shanghai's first World Natural Heritage site. The full documentary is set for completion by the end of the year, with a live broadcast event in Shanghai running concurrently.

The Blooming Shanghai Creative Art Exhibition, curated by IP Shanghai, also debuted, featuring 20 illustrations by young artists from around the world. The artworks, themed around "Haipai Life", "Shanghai Silhouettes", and "Street Scenes", depicted the vibrant life and landmarks of Shanghai.

During the documentary screening and promotion, representatives from the Shanghai Media Group Documentary Center, China Arab TV, and Yemen's Aden TV signed a cooperation agreement to promote Shanghai-produced documentaries in the Middle East. These documentaries cover themes such as urban renewal, underwater archaeology, nature conservation, and cultural geography, and have won numerous international awards. The parties will explore new avenues for promoting and licensing these works in the Middle East.

The event also hosted a China-Saudi media audiovisual salon, where guests from Saudi film institutions and universities engaged in discussions with Shanghai representatives on topics such as the international promotion of documentaries and the creation of culturally impactful works.

The event received support from the Chinese embassy in Saudi Arabia and the Foreign Affairs Office of the Shanghai Municipal People's Government.

Luo Bin contributed to the story.