The Sixth New Zealand Chinese Festival kicked off in the New Zealand capital of Wellington on Friday.

The film festival, co-sponsored by China's State Administration of Radio Film Board and the New Zealand Film Commission, was hosted by New Zealand's Pacific Culture and Arts Exchange Center to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and the 37th anniversary of full diplomatic relations between China and New Zealand.

Chinese Ambassador Zhang Limin, New Zealand Culture and Historic Heritage Ministry CEO Lewis Holden, Chinese film director Chen Jun and more than 100 guests attended the opening ceremony of the film festival.

The film Honeymoon, directed by Chen Jun, co-starring by Wang Ning and Shang Yue, was showed at the opening ceremony.

Nine Chinese films, shoot in recent year of high artistic value,are shown in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington and Christchurch from October 16 to November 8.

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key sent a message to wish the film festival a success. He said the film festival is another opportunity to bring New Zealand and China closer together and strengthen the ties between the two peoples. He added that the films on offer will provide a window into the lives of the Chinese people and help New Zealanders gain a richer understanding of China and its culture.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Chinese Ambassador Zhang Limin said the film festival is an important part of cultural exchanges between the two countries and the Chinese film festival will provide a good opportunity for the New Zealanders to understand Chinese films and culture.

Chen Jun, director of film Honeymoon, said the nine film selected are all low cost films which reflected the true lives of the Chinese people. He hoped the New Zealand audience will get to know the lives of the Chinese people through these films.

(Xinhua News Agency October 17, 2009)