Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi is present at a news conference as the 2006 Chinese Film Festival is inaugurated in Washington, capital of US, April 17, 2006. Seven Chinese films, including Ke Ke Xi Li, House of Flying Daggers and Beauty Remains, will be showed during the week-long film festival.

"If I had opportunity to meet President George W. Bush during the Sino-US Summit, I would ask him how many Chinese films he had watched," said world-renown Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi recently.

Her witty remark has narrowed the gap between the Chinese movie star and her American audiences. Zhang's brilliant disposition has won warm applauses from all the audiences there.

The international status of Chinese movie stars comes from the development of Chinese films.

It is the "going global" of Chinese movie industry that enables Zhang received such warm welcome from American movie fans. The rising international status of Chinese movie stars comes from the growth of Chinese films. "I am very proud to be one of the three Chinese movie stars to visit the US during president Hu's official visit to the country. We need to further step up efforts in strengthening communications in terms of Sino-US culture and films, which could consolidate the position of Chinese films internationally," said Zhang.

Zhang has come to the US many times in the past, but she was merely for the promotion of her films or on behalf of herself. But this time, she came to the US in the name of Chinese movie industry, promoting the spirit of Chinese movie to American audiences.

It is worth studying and exploring the similarities between Chinese and American films. For instance, both countries have the same market demands, which is unfortunately not fully explored.

Zhang's film Memories of a Geisha has been proved to be a great hit. Zhang said that China can consider introducing it to the market.

She got into the character that she was playing, because she loves her profession and cherishes her choice.

"I plan to star a tragedy next time because tragedy is more moving. When I read the script of a tragedy, I can't help sharing the feelings with the main characters. I like to think in the main characters' shoes and in what way I should express this kind of feelings. It is very hard to find a good script and that is why the new generation of directors in China creates scripts themselves. The process of finding a good script is not easy, and I should wait while finding my right script."

Zhang is now in the Chinese Movie delegation on an exchange tour to the US led by Zhang Pimin, deputy director of State Film Bureau. Other members of the delegation include young director Lu Chuan and Hu An, who brought their new films to the US.

Editor: Yan