With Hong Kong being the meeting point of east and west, as the cliche goes, we've naturally been keeping a close eye on the tide of Chinese exports to Hollywood. The latest superstar to see her stocks rise in the west is Gong Li. She is already more than famous for roles in films ranging from Zhang Yimou's Raise the Red Lantern in 1991 to Wong Kar-wai's latest film, 2046.

Now it appears that she will star next to a newly minted Oscar winner. Agencies report that Jamie Foxx, who was named best actor this year for his role in Ray, has invited Gong to join his latest project - a movie remake of the 1980s TV series Miami Vice. As a further indication that Gong is succeeding on her talent rather than hype, Foxx and director Michael Mann made the decision to cast the 39-year-old actress even before her latest Hollywood film - the Steven Spielberg-backed Memoirs of a Geisha - has been released.