娱乐英语新闻:Animation production base opens in Tianjin

TIANJIN, May 27 (Xinhua) -- 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 U.S. dollars).

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 told a launching ceremony that animation production had been included into the country's overall development plan for culture 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 animation industry development 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 exchanges, Cai said.

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