More cinemas will be built in China's rural areas, according to the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT).

Many sections of the rural population find it difficult to see films due to a dearth of cinemas and poor transport links.

"Solving the issue of not being able to see movies in rural areas will be given top priority during the urbanization process," said Zhang Pimin, deputy director of SARFT, while outlining the plan for the popularization of cinema in rural areas during the 11th five-year program (2006-2010).

"In the future, cinemas in the countryside will be run by companies governed by market forces and the government will put on some free movies for farmers as well," Zhang added.

"Most of the profits earned by cinemas in the countryside will be earned through the box office," he said.

Meanwhile, digital technologies will be introduced into countryside cinemas so that rural people can see higher-definition movies, he said.

Poor areas in central and western China will get government subsidies for the purchase of digital technology, according to Zhang.

(Xinhua News Agency February 23, 2007)