China – National Geographic Channel, Shanghai Media Group (SMG) and Central Newsreel and Documentary Film Studio (CNDF) reinforced their commitment to showing the unique beauty of China to a global audience through outstanding Chinese documentaries. This latest partnership also extends a nine-year cooperation through which National Geographic Channel and SMG, the acclaimed pioneers of China’s documentary industry, have sought to foster local documentary film production in China. Under the new agreement, National Geographic Channel will co-produce an international version of The Bund, a documentary originally developed by SMG and CNDF, one of the leading documentary production partnerships in China. Directed by CNDF luminary Zhou Bing, The Bund depicts the evolution and rising global influence of central Shanghai over the past century through five High-Definition (HD) episodes and a 120-minute HD theatrical version. Using the original footage and its hallmark storytelling techniques, National Geographic Channel will create an international version of the documentary to share the story of Shanghai’s success with the world. The Bund international version will be released across the National Geographic Channel network to more than 330 million homes worldwide in 2011. In addition, CNDF will premiere The Bund HD theatrical version across China.