The 15th China International Cartoon and Animation Festival concludes with fruitful results in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province on May 5, attracting professionals and organizations from 86 countries and regions worldwide during a six-day period. [Photo/zjol.com.cn]

The 15th China International Cartoon and Animation Festival (CICAF) culminated with rewarding results in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province on May 5.

A total of 2,645 companies and 5,778 exhibitors from home and abroad attended the event over a six-day period. More than 1,300 international cooperation agreements worth 13.98 billion yuan ($2.08 billion) were inked.

Meanwhile, 1.44 million visitors participated in an assortment of activities, generating consumption of 16.5 billion yuan.

With cartoon and animation companies and organizations from 86 countries and regions participating, the area of the overseas exhibition hall was 20 percent larger than that of last year.

E-tickets accounted for 89.26 percent of total ticket sales, up 11 percent year on year.

Visitors experience cartoon and animation games at an exhibition hall of the 15th China International Cartoon and Animation Festival in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, on April 30. [Photo/IC]

"China's animation industry was at an initial stage when I came to China 18 years ago. This year is my second visit to China and the industry now is developing rapidly," said Joe D'Ambrosia, senior vice president of Original Programming, Disney Junior, who noted that something new is always popping up in today's Chinese animation industry and the country's animators seem to have progressed in telling cartoon stories.

"What CICAF attracts me most is that it allows us to exchange ideas with Chinese counterparts," said Kristine Belson, president of Sony Pictures Entertainment, adding that she looks forward to forging partnership with Chinese animation companies. 

CICAF is the only State-level professional cartoon and animation festival in China. Over the past 15 years, it has developed into the largest, most popular and most influential professional cartoon and animation festival.

The annual event has been held in Hangzhou every spring since 2005.