China to have over 60,000 film screens by 2020

China is expected to have over 60,000 cinema screens by 2020 which will make it the world's largest film market, a top official said.

According to Zhang Hongsen, deputy director of the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television (SAPPRFT), by 2020 China is expected to produce around 800 movies each year and the annual box office will reach 70 billion yuan ($10.6 billion), reports Xinhua news agency.

This year, some foreign films, including Indian blockbuster "Dangal", raked in higher box office takings in China, making the country an increasingly attractive market for foreign film producers.

It is possible that China will become the world's new film production centre, Zhang added.

China's 2017 box office taking exceeded 50 billion yuan ($7 billion) last week, the first time the country has broken the 50-billion mark, SAPPRFT announced.

For domestic movies only, the box office reached 26.2 billion yuan, accounting for 52.4 per cent of the total.

--IANS

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