Decades after Soviet photographer Roman Lazarevich Karmen documented China's wartime resilience, his grandson reignited the legacy at a Beijing-Moscow cultural exchange event, symbolizing enduring China-Russia ties. The gathering commemorated the 80th anniversary of victories in both nations’ anti-fascist struggles, spotlighting shared historical narratives.
Film and Media Synergy
The event unveiled the 2025 China Film Festival in Russia and showcased 'Red Silk,' a Sino-Russian co-production premiering in Chinese theaters this September. CMG and VGTRK also launched a joint initiative to collect wartime memorabilia from citizens, aiming to craft a multimedia 'vision of peace' through crowd-sourced history.
Leadership Endorsements Highlight Shared Vision
Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized in a congratulatory message that wartime collaboration laid the foundation for today’s bilateral relations. Russian President Vladimir Putin echoed this sentiment, reaffirming cultural cooperation as a pillar of mutual understanding. Shen Haixiong of CMG and VGTRK’s Oleg Dobrodeev pledged expanded collaboration in content sharing and technology.
Cultural Years Gain Momentum
Aligned with Xi and Putin’s 2023 agreement designating 2024-2025 as China-Russia Years of Culture, recent months have seen a surge in joint projects, including a documentary revisiting Soviet photojournalist Roman Kalman’s WWII contributions. These efforts aim to strengthen grassroots support for bilateral ties while engaging global audiences.
