MUMBAI: Singapore struck its fourth film co-production deal with China on Friday. The signing took place as part of the 7th China-Singapore Joint Council for Bilateral Co-operation currently being held in Beijing.

China was represented by vice minister Zhang Pimin of China‘s State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT), while Singapore‘s parliamentary secretary for Trade and Industry and Information, Communications and the Arts, Sam Tan signed on behalf of his country.

The deal covers theatrical feature films and telemovies, across live-action, animation and documentaries. Qualifying films made under the agreement will be eligible for funding and incentives as do productions in their home country, and will similarly qualify as domestic films under censorship regimes in each nation.

SARFT will oversee the agreement on the Chinese side, while the Media Development Authority will supervise it for Singapore.

Singapore had earlier signed such co-production deals with Australia, Canada and New Zealand

France and China signed a co-production treaty in May but so far no films have gone into production under its terms.

Australia and China signed a co-production treaty in 2007 but only one feature has been made under that agreement, "Children of Huang Shi," directed by Roger Spottiswoode and starring Chow Yun-fat and Jonathan Rhys-Myers.