Dear Friends,

Ladies and gentlemen,  

Good afternoon! At the outset, I would like to congratulate SM Cinema on introducing the Chinese animated feature Nezha 2 (Nezha: The Devil’s Fury) and hosting this Philippine premiere! And thank you for doing this.

Six years ago, the release of Nezha 1 achieved remarkable global success. I watched the film twice and have been eagerly anticipating Nezha 2. Six years later, Nezha 2 has finally arrived, exceeding our expectations with even greater surprises. Within just over five weeks of its release, the film has already attracted over 300 million viewers and grossed $2 billion with captivating storytelling and widespread popularity. It is the first non-Hollywood film to break into the top 10 of the global all-time box office chart. I believe that as Nezha 2 rolls out in the Philippines and other Asian countries, fans will witness even more exciting box office milestones.

Recently, I “recruited” a smart AI assistant named DeepSeek. She informed me that the success of the Nezha series is just one example of China’s recent surge in technological and cultural innovation. She also shared some fascinating updates about China’s latest advancements: the social media platform Rednote (Xiao Hongshu) once topped global APP download, fostering sincere exchanges between Chinese and American users; the Chinese video game Black Myth: Wukong won international gaming awards, stunning players worldwide; Chinese web novels and 5-minute mini-dramas are gaining popularity overseas; China now holds 63% of the global humanoid robotics industrial chain, with humanoid robots set to compete alongside humans at the Beijing Marathon next month. These innovations represent just a glimpse of China’s ever-evolving technological and cultural landscape. As the annual Two Sessions unfold in China, topics like AI+, modern industrial systems, and green transformation dominate discussions. Relentless efforts of generations of Chinese people continue to drive breakthroughs and to push the boundaries of imagination.

An iconic line from Nezha 2 resonates deeply: “If there is no path ahead, I will forge one myself.” This sentiment has inspired countless people facing adversity. Just as Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said: "Where there is blockade, there will be breakthroughs; where there is suppression, there will be innovation." The very place where storms rage most fiercely becomes the stage for Nezha to rise to the challenges and to shine in the heaven. Through today’s screening, I hope we will not only appreciate the splendor of Chinese culture, but also draw strength from it—the courage to forge ahead despite difficulties, the determination to break through constraints and pioneer new frontiers.

Thank you and please enjoy the movie.