Hollywood actor Leonardo DiCaprio, 41, praised the Chinese government for its efforts to combat climate change. The "Wolf Of Wall Street" star said the country could be the hero of the climate change movement.
The environmentalist was in Beijing to promote his latest movie "Revenant." While at a press briefing to promote the film, the Daily Mail quoted the actor as saying, China can lead the way in terms of sustainable measures.
DiCaprio was referring to China's usage of renewable forms of energy. The "Inception" actor raised the issue of climate change during his Oscar acceptance speech in February this year. Media reports quoted DiCaprio during his speech saying that climate change was the most urgent threat facing human beings.
"I really think that China can be the hero of the environmental movement," DiCaprio was quoted by the publication as saying during the briefing. He added that China "can be the hero of the climate change movement."
In addition, the actor said China had an opportunity to change the world. He said he believed that it was China's intention to do so. While China is the world's largest coal user and producer, it has also become a leading investor in terms of renewable forms of energy, which include solar and wind power.
"The Revenant" has led DiCaprio to his first Oscar win. Directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu, the film has already generated $33 million at the Chinese box office, Guardian reported. Further, the publication claimed that the film's success in China can bring the worldwide box office figure close to $500million.
According to the British publication, DiCaprio has a following of Chinese fans. His popularity is in part due to the fondness that local fans have towards James Cameron's romantic film "Titanic." DiCaprio is referred to by his local fans as Xiao Li, or Little Lee.
While China is home to the world's second largest box office after the United States, it is the last destination to where the film has traveled. Mexican director Iñárritu won an Oscar for best director for the second time owing to the film. While Emmanuel Lubezki took home a third consecutive best cinematography Oscar.
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