Putin says Russia and China are developing a competitor to 'Eurovision'
Beijing has expressed support for Moscow's initiative to host a high-level song contest, as stated by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
Moscow and Beijing are striving to enhance their cultural connections through new initiatives, particularly in the film and music industries, as highlighted by Russian President Vladimir Putin. During last week's BRICS Summit, he discussed various projects, including joint film collaborations and the establishment of an international music festival.
In an interview with Rossiya-1 correspondent Pavel Zarubin, shared on his Telegram channel Sunday, Putin commended Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s push for increased collaboration between filmmakers in both countries. He emphasized the cultural and historical ties that unite Russia and China, noting that the two nations possess “pages of heroic history, beautiful history” and a wealth of intriguing stories that should reach a broader audience.
“There is also an idea to create a high-level festival like Intervision,” Putin remarked, referencing the well-known song contest that historically served as an alternative to the Western Eurovision. He added, “When we proposed this, our Chinese friends supported it and embraced the idea. Let’s see what comes of it.”
Intervision was notable for attracting talent from not only socialist nations but also contestants from the Netherlands, Austria, Belgium, Finland, Spain, Canada, and Portugal. The festival took place from 1965 to 1980, first in Czechoslovakia and later in Poland.
After the Soviet Union's collapse, there was an effort to revive the contest, culminating in a single event hosted in Sochi, Russia, in 2008, which saw participation from 11 former members. In 2023, Moscow once again proposed the revival of Intervision, now inviting Central Asian nations, Shanghai Cooperation Organization members, BRICS countries, and any other interested participants.
Russia's entry into Eurovision started in 1994, but the country was excluded from the supposedly “apolitical” competition following the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022. Prominent Russian figures, including 2015 Eurovision contestant Polina Gagarina, faced sanctions from the EU for not denouncing the Russian government.
Moscow has consistently criticized Western efforts to “cancel” Russian culture, with Putin asserting that the “unprecedented politicization of the field of culture” has converted it “into a weapon of geopolitical intrigues.”
Mathilde Moreau for TROIB News
In an interview with Rossiya-1 correspondent Pavel Zarubin, shared on his Telegram channel Sunday, Putin commended Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s push for increased collaboration between filmmakers in both countries. He emphasized the cultural and historical ties that unite Russia and China, noting that the two nations possess “pages of heroic history, beautiful history” and a wealth of intriguing stories that should reach a broader audience.
“There is also an idea to create a high-level festival like Intervision,” Putin remarked, referencing the well-known song contest that historically served as an alternative to the Western Eurovision. He added, “When we proposed this, our Chinese friends supported it and embraced the idea. Let’s see what comes of it.”
Intervision was notable for attracting talent from not only socialist nations but also contestants from the Netherlands, Austria, Belgium, Finland, Spain, Canada, and Portugal. The festival took place from 1965 to 1980, first in Czechoslovakia and later in Poland.
After the Soviet Union's collapse, there was an effort to revive the contest, culminating in a single event hosted in Sochi, Russia, in 2008, which saw participation from 11 former members. In 2023, Moscow once again proposed the revival of Intervision, now inviting Central Asian nations, Shanghai Cooperation Organization members, BRICS countries, and any other interested participants.
Russia's entry into Eurovision started in 1994, but the country was excluded from the supposedly “apolitical” competition following the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022. Prominent Russian figures, including 2015 Eurovision contestant Polina Gagarina, faced sanctions from the EU for not denouncing the Russian government.
Moscow has consistently criticized Western efforts to “cancel” Russian culture, with Putin asserting that the “unprecedented politicization of the field of culture” has converted it “into a weapon of geopolitical intrigues.”
Mathilde Moreau for TROIB News
