Filming has begun on a China-Russia co-production – "The Great Victory – China’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression Through the Lens of a Soviet Photographer" – as part of a campaign designed to deepen cultural exchanges between China and Russia. 

The documentary explores the experiences of Soviet photojournalist, Roman Kalman, in China and the images he captured in 1938. 

Another China-Russia co-production, "Red Silk", releases in theatres across China in September, Chinese and Russian media heads said at an event in Moscow hosted by the China Media Group (CMG) and the All-Russia State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company (VGTRK).

The event, held ahead of the 2025 China Film Festival in Russia from 13-17 May, was organised to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory of both Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the Soviet Union’s Great Patriotic War, organisers said.

Shen Haixiong, vice minister of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and president of CMG, and Oleg Dobrodeev, CEO of the VGTRK, highlighted the achievements of past cooperation between the two media organisations.

Both men talked about their commitment to strengthening collaboration in content exchange and tech innovation, among other sectors. They said the aim was to deepen public support for the China-Russia friendship and to contribute to cultural understanding between the two nations.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin sent congratulatory messages that were publicised at the event.