PHNOM PENH, July 10 (Xinhua) -- The China Film Week kicked off here on Tuesday to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Cambodia.

Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Men Sam An and Chinese Ambassador Xiong Bo jointly opened the festival at the iconic Chak Tomuk Theater, which attracted an audience of about 800 people.

Six famous Chinese films - "Kung Fu Yoga," "Journey to the West," "Detective Chinatown," "Wolf Warrior," "Running Like Wind," and "Operation Red Sea," would be screened at the theater on July 10-14.

Men Sam An said the ticket-free event was vital to deepening cultural ties and people-to-people bonds between the two countries.

"It will make Cambodian people better understand the culture of the Chinese people," she said.

The deputy prime minister said Cambodia and China are "good neighbors, friends, brothers and partners," and the relations between the two countries are "considered as a role model for relationship between country and country."

Ambassador Xiong said films are a key bridge to strengthen mutual understanding among peoples and to promote the exchange of culture and arts.

He said the China Film Week was launched in Phnom Penh for the first time after the annual China-Cambodia Film Tour, which was held in 2016, had gained strong support from Cambodian audience.

"The China Film Week and the third China-Cambodia Film Tour are a gift to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Cambodia," he said.

After the China Film Week, the third China-Cambodia Film Tour will be launched and several Chinese and Cambodian films will be screened in "open-air cinemas" in Phnom Penh and other provinces.

The events were organized by the Cambodia-China Friendship Radio in cooperation with the Chinese Embassy in Cambodia, the Cambodian Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, the Ministry of Information, as well as the Union of Youth Federations of Cambodia.