Producers of The Angkor Code, a feature-length movie set to be coproduced by China and Cambodia, signed a memorandum of understanding in Phnom Penh on April 11, as part of a new project to boost cultural exchanges between the two countries.

The film, jointly produced by the Beijing-based Shinework Pictures and Cambodian conglomerate Soma Group, will be set against the backdrop of the centuries-old history of Angkor Wat, the world's largest religious structure.

Iris Wang, the film's producer, told China Daily that the idea for the project emerged in July last year. It marks their third such internationally coproduced project, following megastar Jackie Chan's Sino-Indian blockbuster Kung Fu Yoga and The Composer, the first Sino-Kazakh film recounting a lesser-known story about late musician Xian Xinghai.

After traveling to Cambodia multiple times over the past half year in search of script inspiration, Wang revealed that the movie will interweave appealing elements of suspense, adventure and action stunts to tell a human-interest story about the friendship between a Chinese martial artist and a Cambodian fighter.

"The story will be about how they team up to stop an international gang that steals precious treasures, with aid from both countries," said Wang, also vice-president of Shinework Pictures.

With China being one of the world's largest movie markets, Wang said they hope the film will spark the interest of more Chinese tourists to travel to Cambodia, a country rich in history and cultural heritage.

Scheduled to feature a cast of A-list stars from China and Cambodia as well as actors from other countries, the film will showcase the stone carvings of Angkor Wat; stunts from Kun Khmer, a combat sport that originated in Cambodia; and the Apsara Dance, a traditional performance with roots dating back to the 7th century.

Jonathan Shen, president of Shinework Pictures, recalled that The Composer beat over 300 competitors from 12 countries and regions to win the Golden Rumdul Award in the Best Film category — the top honor at the 2nd Cambodia-Asia Film Festival — in August last year. The triumph earned acclaim from industry insiders and attendees, including Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wenbin.

"Through the new film, created under the Belt and Road Initiative frame, we hope to capture the vibrant spirit of modern Cambodia and celebrate the enduring friendship between our two nations," Shen added.

Krasna Cham, chairwoman and CEO of Soma Group, described the coproduction as a landmark event for cultural exchange between Cambodia and China, commenting that it would vividly showcase Angkor Wat's historical heritage and modern vitality to audiences in China and around the world.

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