Workers at the newly opened animation base in Tianjin. Photo: CFP

China's first state-level animation production base opened Friday in northern Tianjin Municipality, with a total investment of 4.5 billion yuan ($690 million).

More than 180 firms have signed up for animation production and related services at the 770,000-square-meter base, located in the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-city.

Minister of Culture Cai Wu said at a launch ceremony that animation production had been included in the country's overall development plan for the cultural industry during the 2011-2015 period.

He said over the past two years the culture ministry and the Tianjin municipal government had worked together to create a favorable environment for the development of the animation industry in fund raising, financial and technology services.

The Tianjin base will be developed into a center for animation production, trading, exhibition, training, research and development, and international exchange, Cai said.

He said this was part of the country's efforts to boost its homegrown animation industry.

Agencies