A news conference is held 30 days before the 15th China International Cartoon & Animation Festival in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, on March 30. [Photo/IC]

Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang province, held a news conference on March 30 in the run-up to the 15th China International Cartoon & Animation Festival (CICAF).

Running from April 30 to May 5, the six-day event will be divided into five sections – exhibitions, forums, business fairs, competitions and activities – and will include more than 50 branded projects in the main venue and 12 branch venues.

To commemorate the 70th anniversary of the founding of People's Republic of China, this year's festival will feature a range of seminars and summits focusing on the development of Chinese animation and will take a look back at the great animation works of the past seven decades.

Cartoon models are staged at the news conference of the 15th China International Cartoon & Animation Festival in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province on March 30. [Photo/IC]

For the very first time, the US Walt Disney Company will join the event, bringing with it the finest works from the world renowned Marvel Comics.

Esteemed animation companies from another 20 countries and regions around the world, including Brazil, Chile, the United States, Canada, South Korea, and Japan will also be on-hand to share their knowledge and explore business opportunities.

To further increase the international profile of CICAF, this year's event selected 100 overseas publicity ambassadors to promote CICAF via social media and other activities.

An animation flash mob event honoring the 70th anniversary of the founding of People's Republic of China is held in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province on March 30. [Photo/IC]

Held in Hangzhou every spring since 2005, the annual event has become an invaluable trademark of Hangzhou and Zhejiang province as a whole. 

It is the only State-level professional cartoon and animation festival in China, and is currently the largest, most popular and most influential professional cartoon and animation festival in China.

Last year, it attracted a total of 2,641 companies and 5,760 exhibitors from home and abroad and saw the signing of more than 1,000 international cooperation agreements worth 13.83 billion yuan ($2.18 billion) over the six-day period.