Skip to main content

Activity Category: Media Engagement Activity

Ambassador Attends Ghana–China Friendship Association Meeting with Local Media

Written by Editors on .

Chinese Ambassador Tong Defa (童德發) attended a year-end media reception hosted by the Ghana–China Friendship Association (加納—中國友好協會) on December 10, 2025, according to an embassy notice. The event hosted approximately 40 participants, including Association Chairman Ambassador Anani-Isaac (戴安大使), friendship figures (友好人士) referring to non-governmental individuals who support Beijing’s interests, and local media representatives. Tong utilized the platform to signal messaging from the CCP’s Fourth Plenum (四中全會) and China’s zero-tariff measures toward Ghana, while noting outcomes from President Mahama’s (馬哈馬總統) recent visit to China. Speakers praised the “traditional friendship” (傳統友誼) between the nations—”friendship” in CCP official discourse generally entails the accommodating of China’s interests in relationships. Both sides emphasized sustaining bilateral cooperation and strategic media engagement moving forward.

Gui Congyou Interviewed by Swedish Television

Written by Editors on .

On January 8, 2020, Chinese Ambassador to Sweden Gui Congyou (桂從友) was interviewed at the embassy by Swedish Television (SVT) regarding media roles and Swedish coverage of China. The interview, published on January 17, 2020, covered media responsibilities, press freedom, journalist visa policies, and the case of detained Swedish citizen Gui Minhai (桂敏海). Gui outlined three media principles: basing reporting on “objective facts,” promoting “friendship” rather than inciting hostility, and assuming social responsibility. In CCP official discourse, which assumes political control of media for the Party’s needs, “objectivity” refers to coverage aligned with the CCP’s vision rather than criticism of China and its leaders. “Friendship” implies a conditional relationship where criticism is set aside for mutual interests. Gui criticized Swedish journalists for “groundlessly attacking” the Chinese Communist Party and government while refusing to visit China, comparing them to Chekhov’s short story “The Man in a Case” (裝在套子裡的人) — understood as a cautionary tale about voluntary isolation. He confirmed rejecting visa applications from Swedish journalists, stating Sweden lacked “the qualifications and ability to interfere in other countries’ internal affairs.”

Xinhua Reports on Icelandic Times Chinese Edition Launch

Written by Editors on .

On December 24, 2014, Xinhua News Agency reported on the launch of the Chinese-language edition of Icelandic Times magazine. The coverage featured an interview with then-Prime Minister Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson, who described China as “a country creating the future” and emphasized Iceland’s interest in strengthening bilateral cooperation, particularly in tourism. Tourism Minister Ragnheiður Elín Árnadóttir also appeared in the coverage, welcoming Chinese tourists. The Xinhua report promoted the magazine’s first Chinese edition and announced plans for a second edition to be printed and distributed in China in February 2015, along with the launch of the Chinese-language website www.icelandictimes.cn. This coverage established Icelandic Times as a platform for Chinese state media engagement and narrative framing with Icelandic audiences, as well as promotion of Iceland to Chinese tourists.

Icelandic Times Runs Interview with Chinese Ambassador

Written by Editors on .

On July 23, 2024, Icelandic Times magazine published an interview with Ambassador He Rulong (何儒龍) titled “Different Countries, Connected Hearts” (《國不同,心相通》). The interview highlighted cooperation between China and Iceland in cultural tourism, Arctic affairs, geothermal energy, and mutual learning between civilizations (文明互鑒). The piece was published in three languages—Icelandic, English, and Chinese. Icelandic Times has maintained longstanding cooperation with Chinese state entities, including Xinhua News Agency, and regularly features content from Chinese diplomatic missions. The interview represents continued use of the publication as a platform for Chinese diplomatic messaging in Iceland.

Chinese Ambassador Runs Article in Icelandic Times

Written by Editors on .

On July 25, 2019, the Chinese Embassy in Iceland published a signed article by Ambassador Jin Zhijian (金智健) in Icelandic Times magazine titled “The Time is Right to Advance China-Iceland Bilateral Cooperation” (《推動中冰雙邊合作正當其時》). The embassy-provided article (駐冰島使館供稿) appeared in the magazine’s seventh issue, which has had longstanding cooperation with Chinese state entities, including Xinhua News Agency. Jin’s piece emphasized bilateral achievements including trade exceeding $700 million in 2018, high-level exchanges, cultural initiatives like the “Happy Chinese New Year” (歡樂春節) celebrations, and cooperation on Arctic affairs and climate change.

Chinese Embassy Places Content in Two Icelandic Media

Written by Editors on .

On October 1, 2019, the Chinese Embassy in Iceland collaborated with two Icelandic publications — the daily newspaper Morgunblaðið and the Icelandic Times — to mark the 70th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). The embassy produced an eight-page Icelandic supplement and a 38-page English special edition containing data on China’s development and articles on bilateral relations. Ambassador Jin Zhijian (金智健) used these platforms to state China’s positions on the “Belt and Road” initiative, Arctic policy, and trade friction. The publications included interviews and articles from Icelandic figures, including the former president and the Minister of Education, Science, and Culture. This cooperation serves as a regional example of the “borrowed boat” (借船出海) strategy, where the Chinese Communist Party utilizes established foreign media outlets to disseminate its official narratives and policy perspectives to a local audience.

Chinese Ambassador Visits Icelandic Times Office

Written by Editors on .

On June 13, 2019, Chinese Ambassador Jin Zhijian (金智健) visited Icelandic Times and met with Editor-in-Chief Einar Thorsteinsson and senior staff to discuss future cooperation. Jin introduced China’s economic and social development and bilateral relations with Iceland, praising the magazine’s Chinese edition for providing tourism information that enhanced Chinese tourists’ understanding of Icelandic society, economy, and culture. The ambassador stated that “the Chinese Embassy was willing to strengthen cooperation with Icelandic Times and work together to promote further development of China-Iceland relations.” Thorsteinsson welcomed the ambassador and “expressed his satisfaction with the current cooperation with the Chinese Embassy, and expected more cooperation for the future.” Icelandic Times publishes in English, Icelandic, Chinese, German, and other languages, focusing on Icelandic tourism, culture, trade, and economy.

CMG Rolls Out Promotional Film Ads in 28 Countries

Written by Editors on .

China Media Group’s “Thousand Overseas Screens” (海外千屏) program will deploy promotional content for the “China Travel with Chinese Films” (跟著電影遊中國) campaign across more than 600 public screens in 28 countries during 2026, according to a February 4 announcement at a special promotion event in Shenzhen. The initiative, co-hosted by the China Film Administration (CFA) and CMG, places content in high-visibility locations including cinema chains in seven major US cities, shopping centers, and diplomatic venues. Promotional materials feature 2026 Spring Festival films alongside tourism content about filming locations, supporting China’s international communication strategy to present a “credible, lovable, respectable China” (可信、可愛、可敬的中國). The campaign integrates with CMG’s Spring Festival Gala global viewing events and Chinese embassy receptions, demonstrating coordinated party-state soft power deployment through commercial-cultural channels.

Chinese Ambassador Meets with Senegal National Broadcasting Director

Written by Editors on .

Chinese Ambassador to Senegal Li Zhigang (李志剛) met with Senegal National Broadcasting Director Pape Alé Niang on January 7, 2026 to discuss China-Senegal media exchange and cooperation. Ambassador Li emphasized that China “highly values promoting China-Senegal and China-Africa civilizational exchange and mutual learning” ahead of the 2026 China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges — an initiative between China and the African Union kicked off in January 2026 — and expressed willingness to cooperate with Senegal National Broadcasting on media coverage of major events including the Dakar Youth Olympic Games. Director Niang praised China’s contributions to Senegal’s development and stated willingness to “learn from China’s development experience” and “actively promote Senegal-China friendly cooperation.” The meeting represents China’s efforts to build media coordination with African state broadcasters as part of broader people-to-people exchange initiatives designed to strengthen “hearts connecting, emotions blending, and forces gathering.” The language of “civilizational exchange” reflects official CCP terminology positioning China as creator of “a new form of human civilization” that other countries should emulate, while “friendship” is a term the CCP uses to condition relationships on accommodating China’s core interests.