Editor's Note:

China agreed on Saturday to allow additional 14 US movies a year into Chinese cinemas, raising the total from 20 to 34. Will this threaten the survival of the domestic film industry? How will China maintain its own culture in the face of a dominant Hollywood? Global Times (GT) reporter Huang Jingjing talked to Yin Hong (Yin), director of the Center for Film and Television Studies at Tsinghua University, and Qi Yongfeng (Qi), director of the Culture Industry Research Center at the Communication University of China, on these issues.

GT: Chinese box office revenue reached a record high of 13.1 billion yuan ($2 billion) last year. But just 20 US films already made up 37 percent of that. With more foreign films coming, is the wolf at the door?

Yin:The impact on the fledgling Chinese film industry will be inevitable, especially in enhanced-format films like IMAX and 3D. With its weak foundation and lack of experience in commercial strategies, the Chinese film industry has just begun to adapt to the market.

But in the long run, this "wolf" will stimulate the development and reform of the Chinese film industry.

Qi: The opening this time is just a step to follow WTO rules. The tight limit on importing US films was set in 1994, when the film sector was in decline in China due to structural barriers and bureaucracy. But now, since conditions are mature, it's time to increase the number, and further open the market.

Chinese box office revenue is growing annually by 30 to 40 percent, and China has become the world's third largest film market, following the US and Japan. There are more and more good home-made films, which now have a majority share in the market.

GT: Some are worried that the entrance of more foreign films means an invasion of Western culture and values, while others see films as a source of Chinese soft power. How do you see this?

Yin:More opening-up means more cooperation and opportunities. It's a win-win issue. There are two major channels to disseminate culture and values: news and film. The latter is much more international and convenient. In order to increase cultural prosperity and build soft power, we should boost our film industry and push Chinese films worldwide.

Qi:Immediately after Chinese entry to the WTO, there were fears that agricultural and auto industries might be damaged as they were opened to competition. But such worries were wrong. An industry cannot be given life behind closed doors. Introducing foreign films will diversify cultural forms and promote the development of our own culture.

Films have played a guiding role in cultural transmission and soft power building. As the market further opens, there will be more contacts and cooperation with the world's leading filmmakers. As a result, we have more opportunities to learn from them.

But still, we have to take different policies at different stages. Loosening restrictions brings opportunities, as well as challenges. If the domestic industry is not strong enough, foreign films will occupy the space our films need. I was recently told by some insiders from Taiwan that films made by Taiwan filmmakers only have a 1.5 percent market share. Most stars had to move to the mainland.

As a result, it's still essential for the mainland to set some protective policies at the beginning. This is also the reason why overseas films and dramas were recently prohibited from being broadcast on primetime television.