China will raise the quotas on imported films from othercountries, according to a report on Chinese news agency Xinhua.

In recent years, China has imported about 50 films annually,with about a half coming from the United States.

Since many Chinese are unable to watch many films from othercountries, the country's Film Bureau will make more efforts to diversifythe source countries next year, said Tong Gang, director of the film bureau ofthe State Administration of Radio, Film and Television. However, he did notspecify how many films would be allowed into the country in 2005.

Chinese cinema goers are also likely to have more choicenext year with a new film-rating system about to be introduced.

The lack of a rating system has allowed Chinese censors tofreely cut content considered offensive or politically incorrect from local andforeign films to make them "appropriate for all ages".

Tong confirmed the long-debated rating system would be putin place next year, the China Dailynewspaper reported.

Some critics had expressed concern that a film-rating systemmay unleash more erotic films and "affect the ethics and moralintegrity" of Chinese society, the newspaper said.

Tong rejected that possibility.

"I want to make it clear that we will not copy Westernstyle motion picture rating systems blindly," Tong was quoted as saying.

Some Chinese movies, especially those that portray theCommunist Party or the country's recent history in unflattering light, arebarred from cinemas altogether.

Most Hollywood blockbusters can pass muster, with somecareful cutting, and China has been slowly allowing more foreign movies intothe market as part of its agreement for entering the World Trade Organisationin 2001.