At the fifth China-Arab States Forum on Radio & Television Cooperation recently held in Beijing, Zhao Yifang, founder and president of Huace Group, gave a keynote speech regarding the company's success in facilitating cultural exchanges.

To date, the Hangzhou-based film and television production company has managed to broadcast over 100,000 hours of Chinese television series and films in 180 plus countries and regions in the world.

Productions by Huace that have entered the Middle East have had a screen time of more than 1,000 hours. The Long Ballad, a costume play presented by Huace, was the first Chinese television series to be screened on the United Arab Emirates' streaming site Noor Play earlier this year.

A snapshot for the presence of The Long Ballad on United Arab Emirates' streaming site Noor Play. [Photo/zj.zjol.com.cn]

Huace has also launched an Arabian-language YouTube channel, which has so far broadcast 40 plus Chinese TV series and garnered around 700,000 subscribers. The total viewing time of these shows currently stands at 53 million hours. The top two most-watched TV series are The Brightest Star in the Sky and Go Ahead, both of which focus on the life stories of the younger generation.

The Song of Glory, a period drama broadcast on the channel, recently became the first Chinese winner of the International Emmy Awards for Telenovela.

A poster for the award-winning TV series The Song of Glory. [Photo/zj.zjol.com.cn]

Zhao attributed the company's overseas success to its strict adherence to translating Chinese dramas into foreign languages, its efficient operation of China (Zhejiang) International Cooperation Zone for Film and TV Industry, as well as its deep cooperation with international TV and film producers.