BEIJING, CHINA — China has opened a four-month international media exchange programme in Beijing, bringing together journalists from countries across the Global South and other regions to promote media cooperation and cultural understanding.
The programme, organised through the China International Press Communication Centre (CIPCC), was officially opened at Renmin University of China, with 109 journalists from 101 countries taking part.
The programme includes journalism training, field visits, discussions and cultural exchanges aimed at giving participating journalists an opportunity to gain first-hand knowledge of China’s development and its engagement with the international community.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Assistant Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of China, Mr. Hong Lei, said the programme was intended to help foreign journalists gain a closer understanding of China and report on its development from different perspectives.
He encouraged journalists to provide objective coverage and diverse perspectives while highlighting areas such as China’s economic transformation and technological advancement.
“The CIPCC was founded to provide a bridge for media friends from Global South countries to get closer to and understand China,” he said.
Vice President of the China Public Diplomacy Association, Mr. Hong Xiaoyin, said the CIPCC had, over the years, worked to create a platform through which international journalists could engage with China through first-hand experiences.
Mr. Hong said China remained committed to strengthening solidarity and cooperation among countries of the Global South, promoting common development and stronger multilateral cooperation.
“Against this complex backdrop, candid exchanges among cross-border media practitioners are all the more essential. Stereotypes ought to be replaced by on-the-go observations, and global narratives ought to be enriched by diverse perspectives, so as to inject public opinion momentum into trust, enhanced understanding and deeper cooperation,” he said.
The programme also provides an opportunity for journalists to strengthen professional networks and deepen media exchanges between Africa and China.
The initiative comes amid growing cooperation between China and countries of the Global South in areas including trade, development and cultural exchange.
BY: MAMAHOLELA NKUKA
