New wave

Minister of Culture Cai Wu vowed more efforts would be made to boost the cultural industry and market in the next five years (2011-2015).

This will include building a mature market of cultural products, with companies having sharper core competitiveness, a smooth distribution network, better infrastructure and a more efficient supervision and management system, Cai said earlier this month.

"We will encourage originality of the cultural industry and work to improve the competitiveness of cultural enterprises," he said.

He also suggested building syndicates of cinemas and theaters that cover more cities and larger areas.

"We can also expect to see more active cultural trade across the border. Our cultural market and industry would benefit from this, and people's basic rights to enjoy diversified arts and cultures will also be better protected," Zhang Xiaoming said.

Jin, calling himself a "dilettante," saying he had always been relying on films and music to balance his demanding and tiring work in the accounting firm.

"I remember sitting quietly in the big dark hall and watching 'Jules and Jim' and 'Last Year at Marienbad.' It was definitely better than crouching in front of a small computer screen with a pirated DVD inside," Jin said, referring to a special screening section for the French New Wave at last year's Shanghai International Film Festival.

"Great arts enrich life and give me passion. My desire for them is insatiable," Jin said.