LOS ANGELES, June 3 (Xinhua) -- Sid Ganis, president of the American Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, said Wednesday that his upcoming visit to China would help get closer the relations between the Academy, which hands out the annual Oscar awards, and the Chinese movie industry.

    The 69-year-old Hollywood producer and executive, who is scheduled to begin his first China trip next week, said there has been only a kind of a loose, rather than direct relationship between the Academy and the Chinese film industry.

    "Over the years, China submitted its films for the foreign language category competition of the Oscars, and through that we established the ties," Ganis told Xinhua at his Beverly Hills office.

    And the Academy has dealt with the annual Shanghai International Film Festival ever since the event started and held various exhibitions at its premises to introduce works by Chinese filmmakers to Hollywood and American moviegoers, the president added.

    He said although no Chinese films had won the Oscar award in that category, he believed China has many sophisticated filmmakers and they would be recognized by the Oscars one day as time goes by.

    Ganis, who travels sometimes around the world to promote U.S. movies, said he expects his visit would help Hollywood and the Academy know more about the Chinese film industry and its highly potential market.

    During his nearly two-week-long China trip, which is to bring him to Beijing, Shanghai and Xi'an, the Academy president will meet top officials of the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, visit the China National Film Museum, which is the largest museum of its kind in the world, attend workshops and forums on filmmaking and address Chinese college students about U.S. movies.

    Ganis is also expected to attend the Shanghai International Film Festival, which opens on June 13, in a friendly gesture to the Chinese film industry, although he is not allowed to play any role in cinematic events other than the Oscars under the Academy rules.

    Ganis, whose filmmaking credits include "Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo," "Big Daddy," "Mr. Deeds," "The Master of Disguise" and "Akeelah and the Bee," was elected president of the American Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in August 2005. Currently he also serves on the board of directors of Marvel Entertainment.

    A Hollywood veteran in movie producing, marketing and publicity, Ganis served as senior executives at major studios for many years, including president of Paramount Pictures and president for marketing and distribution at Columbia Picture.