Chairman Wang Jianlin joined everyone in kick-starting the strategic partnership ceremony

 Li Yaohan, Chairman of Wanda Cinemas, making a speech

Mr. Richard L. Gelfond, Chief Executive Officer of IMAX, making a speech

Mr. Wang Jianlin, Standing Committee of the National Committee of the Political Consultative Conference, Vice-Chairman of the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, and Chairman of Wanda Group, making a speech

Mao Yue, Deputy Secretary, the Film Administration of the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, making a speech

The signing ceremony concluded

On 24 March, with rapid convergence between the Wanda Cinemas and IMAX brands, Wanda Cinemas and IMAX announced that the two companies have entered into a "close strategic partnership". From now until 2014, Wanda Cinemas and IMAX will jointly build at least 75 IMAX theatres. By then, Wanda Cinemas will own over 100 IMAX theatres, and will become the number one IMAX operator in Asia, and number two worldwide. Wanda Cinemas has become the IMAX's sole, close strategic partner in China.

The signing ceremony took place at Sofitel Wanda Beijing. Mao Yue, Deputy Secretary, the Film Administration of the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, Wang Jianlin, Chairman of Wanda Group, and Richard L. Gelfond, CEO of IMAX, attended the signing ceremony and delivered speeches on the occasion.

Chairman Wang Jianlin mentioned in his speech, "The 12th Five-Year Plan states that cultural industries will become a pillar industry, which shows that the country highly emphasizes the importance of such industries. Therefore, we must grasp this opportunity to drive the upgrade of China's movie market, promote the development of China's movie business, and foster the great development and great prosperity of China's movie industry. Chairman Wang Jianlin also elaborated on the meaning of this strategic mutual partnership through the following three areas:

1. The partnership between Wanda Cinemas and IMAX will provide more opportunities to the Chinese public to enjoy high-quality, "ultimate viewing experience".

2. Not only will the partnership between Wanda Cinemas and IMAX foster the development of Wanda Cinemas, it will also drive the accelerated development of the final consumption market for movies in China.

3. The partnership between Wanda Cinemas and IMAX will ensure that the IMAX technologies will be utilized fully, enhance the competitiveness of Wanda Cinemas, and increase Wanda Cinemas' market share. In future, Wanda Cinemas will become the operator with the highest number of IMAX theatres and generating the greatest benefits globally.

IMAX theatres possess crystal clear screen quality, maximized visual view, and perfect sound effects. IMAX is known as the "ultimate viewing experience", representing the highest level in current movie screening technologies and the future development directions. In recent years, with the screening of numerous IMAX movies, the IMAX viewing experience has spread rapidly, and becomes very popular among viewers, thus becoming a key factor in the competitiveness of cinemas.

Wanda Cinemas is ranking number one in China's box office receipts. As of the end