Rupert Daniels, director of services and skills at the Department for Business and Trade of the United Kingdom, addresses the opening ceremony of the China Film Festival 2024 held in London, Britain, April 11, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

The China Film Festival 2024 kicked off on Thursday evening in London in a bid to further strengthen Sino-British cultural exchanges.

The four-day event will showcase six Chinese films, namely "One and Only" (2023), "The Wandering Earth 2" (2023), "Papa" (2023), "Creation of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms" (2023), "Lighting Up the Stars" (2022) and "Love Never Ends" (2023).

The themes of the six Chinese films range from myths, legends and science fiction to the lives of ordinary people, which are expected to help Britons learn about the various dimensions of Chinese society.

"You may take these six films as an invitation to see the real China, which I can assure you, is quite different from what you read in the press here," said Chinese Ambassador to Britain Zheng Zeguang in a speech at the opening ceremony.

Since the signing of a film co-production agreement between the two countries in 2014, the two sides have engaged in fruitful cooperation such as joint productions, film exhibitions, industry forums and talent training, he said.

This collaboration has played a positive role in promoting the development of the British and Chinese film industries, but more importantly, in enhancing the mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples, he said.

"The Wandering Earth 2," a sci-fi movie released in Britain on Jan. 22, 2023, has emerged as the highest-grossing Chinese-language film at the local box office over the past 15 years, underscoring the local audience's profound appreciation for Chinese cinema.

Ash Dykes, a British moviegoer who has been to China several times, told Xinhua that Westerners still know little about China, a country undergoing dramatic transformation.

"Watching movies is certainly an entertaining way to help you better understand China; but even better, go there and see for yourself," he said.