Canberra- Australia and China have signed a co-production agreement for theatrical films and telemovies after nearly three years of negotiation. First film covered by the agreement, The Children of Huang Shi, an Australia-China-German co-production, is in the final stages of post production. “China represents a huge potential growth area for Australian production, and the opportunities to develop co-produced films which have cultural relevance to both countries are unlimited,” said Arts Minister Senator George Brandis after the pact was signed in Beijing. Australia already has film and television co-production treaties with the UK and Northern Ireland, Canada, Italy, Ireland, Israel and Germany, and there are Memoranda of Understanding with France and New Zealand. In addition, a treaty with South Africa is under negotiation and another with Singapore is close to being finalized.