Proposed bill to provide clearer lines for China's filmmaking: spokeswoman

Fu Ying (C, back), spokesperson for the fourth session of China's 12th National People's Congress (NPC), answers questions during a press conference on the session at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2016. The fourth session of the 12th NPC is scheduled to open in Beijing on March 5. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao)

BEIJING, March 4 -- A new bill to promote China's movie industry will provide clearer lines for filmmakers, a spokeswoman for the annual session of the national legislature said Friday.

There is a consensus among filmmakers and censors that there should be clearer lines for China's filmmaking, and that the censorship system should be open and transparent, said Fu Ying, spokeswoman for the Fourth Session of the 12th National People's Congress (NPC), at a press conference.

Fu quoted the draft bill as saying that, in establishing specific criteria for movie censorship, opinions and suggestions must be sought from experts and other members of society.

After setting a record of 44 billion yuan (6.7 billion U.S. dollars) in 2015, China's cinemas made history once again this February.

With 6.87 billion yuan (1.05 billion U.S. dollars) in ticket sales, China's box office surpassed North America (810 million U.S. dollars) for the first time ever last month, according to the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television.

The bill, which had been read once by the NPC Standing Committee, is still being amended and will help build a better legal environment for China's movie industry, Fu added.