China Film Group Corporation (CFGC), China's largest state-owned movie producer and distributor, issued 500 million yuan (US$67.56 million) worth of bond in Beijing Friday.

The fund financed through the seven-year secured bond will be spent in building a digital production center for movies and new digital cinemas, the company said in a press release.

The money will also go to renewal of some old cinemas, it said.

The digital production center, covering an area of 34.14 hectares in a northern suburb of Beijing, has been under construction since early 2006 with an estimated investment of 900 million yuan (US$121.62 million).

The Chinese government has invested 200 million yuan (US$27.03 million) in the center.

The CFGC is also the only importer of foreign movies in China and a major exporter of Chinese films.

(Xinhua News Agency December 15, 2007)