Oscar-winning director James Cameron is planning to meet Chinese fans on December 23 in Beijing during the Asian promo tour for his upcoming science fiction film "Avatar," the director told The Beijing News.

The eagerly-anticipated film is Cameron's first heavyweight commercial project in 12 years, since his ground-breaking 1997 flick Titanic, which grossed more than 1.8 billion U.S. dollars worldwide.

Since the huge success of "Titanic," Cameron has been away from the mainstream film market, instead devoting his efforts to 3D technique experiments. Obsessed with the idea of a 3D revolution, the director and his team have created and refined a digital cinematography method through four deep-sea themed documentaries. He also spared no effort in persuading theater owners to introduce his 3D projection system.

Luckily for him, the development of 3D films has boomed in the past year and there are now thousands of 3D digital screens all over the world.

Cameron also created a new linguistic and cultural system for the imaginary Pandora planet for "Avatar," his dream work that combines all his childhood imaginings of an exotic world.

The director is optimistic about his new film's box office outlook in China, because he says "Avatar" is as touching a romantic story as "Titanic".

Already a hot topic among film fans, the film is slated for worldwide release on December 18 and will open in China on January 2, 2010.