A science fiction movie targeting children is set to be filmed in Baotou, in North China’s Inner Mongolia autonomous region, on July 16, according to a report in the Baotou Evening News.

The movie, called My Robot Friend, will be a first in children’s science fiction, featuring rare earths and artificial intelligence, according to its backers.

The movie will be directed by Wang Xiaohua, a Huabiao Awards winner, who will also be the producer.

Famous singer Cai Guoqing plays the role of Ma Yue, a senior researcher at the Nano Rare Earths Institute. Cai Xuanzheng, who in real life is his son, will play the role of Ma Yue’s son, Ma Xiaotian.

In addition, a number of stunning AI gadgets and effects will also feature in the film, the movie’s backers said.

Baotou, the largest industrial city in the autonomous region, has harnessed industrial development to boost its local economy. Officials said the city is now committed to transforming itself into a modern industrial base for China, with remarkable developments in the rare earth sector, along with high-end equipment manufacturing, metallurgy and communications technologies.

With abundant rare earths resources, Baotou is fast becoming China's leading supplier and R&D center for rare earths, as well as a center for processing them.

Officials said the city is making strides in the development of its rare earth industry with the Baotou Rare Earths High-Tech Industrial Development Zone serving as its base.

China’s only e-commerce trading platform for rare earths products, the Baotou Rare Earths Products Exchange, was established as an additional boost to the development of the sector.

Baotou Rare Earths High-Tech Industrial Development Zone [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]