TV medical series is a tonic for viewers

As a tribute to mark the 60th anniversary since China began to send its first medical team to a foreign country in 1963, the TV drama has been broadcast domestically since Nov 21, and is scheduled to be translated into Swahili for release in Tanzania.

Also marking the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative, the project was overseen by the National Radio and Television Administration, and supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Health Commission and the Beijing Municipal Radio and Television Bureau.

The drama follows a talented yet conceited surgeon's decision to join a Chinese medical team to Africa after experiencing setbacks in his life. Despite facing challenges like cultural differences and harsh conditions, he gradually falls in love with the distant land, working hard with fellow doctors as they dedicate themselves to saving lives and forming deep friendships with local residents.

For Jin, a veteran director who has worked in the television industry for more than two decades, Welcome to Milele marks his first time shooting such a large-scale TV series overseas.

"I had the experience of filming two TV dramas, one in Australia and the other in Japan, each with a small crew comprising several dozen members. However, for Welcome to Milele, we assembled a team of more than 170 individuals. Although we worried about some uncertainties, the entire process was smoother than expected," says Jin.

After being invited by Liang Zhenhua, the drama's head writer and supervising producer, to helm the project, the director, alongside nine other people — including several scriptwriters and a director of photography — embarked on their first trip to Africa, which took place between early December last year and January.

They were divided into two teams, respectively aimed at selecting filming locations and handling procedural issues such as applying for equipment transportation, and interviewing Chinese medical teams to seek inspiration.