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Activity Category: Media Engagement Activity

China Daily Runs Insert in Des Moines Register

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A four-page China Daily supplement in the Sunday Des Moines Register in September 2018 sought to undermine Iowa farm support for President Donald Trump’s trade war with China, according to political experts. The Chinese government-backed English-language newspaper’s insert highlighted mutual U.S.-China trade benefits and President Xi Jinping’s three-decade Iowa relationship, aiming to pressure the Trump administration by showing potential Republican electoral costs. Political scientist David Skidmore said the effort targeted midterm elections, though he questioned its effectiveness compared to farmers’ economic concerns. Iowa farmers faced projected $2.2 billion losses from trade wars, with ripple effects across the state’s economy and tax revenues.

Cross-Strait Media Tour of Liaoning

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On August 14, 2025, in Shenyang, the capital of Liaoning Province, the All-China Federation of Taiwan Compatriots (中華全國台灣同胞聯誼會), a “people’s organization” directly under the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party, launched its 2025 “Cross-Strait Media Personnel Liaoning Tour” with the Liaoning Provincial Federation of Taiwan Compatriots (遼寧省台灣同胞聯誼會) as host, bringing together over 20 media representatives from both sides of the Taiwan Strait and Hong Kong for a seven-day itinerary. According to Yang Yizhou (楊毅周), vice chairman of the federation, participants visited historical sites including the September 18 Historical Museum (九一八歷史博物館), commemorating Japan’s 1931 invasion of Manchuria, and the Memorial to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea (抗美援朝紀念館), dedicated to China’s intervention in the Korean War in October 1950. According to state media sources, Taiwanese businesspeople in Liaoning were also interviewed during the tour, which leaders said conveyed “positive energy” in cross-strait exchanges — a reference to a phrase Xi Jinping has used to signal non-critical media coverage in line with CCP agendas. A full list of participants was not given in media reports on the tour, but coverage from Phoenix Satellite TV indicated that social media influencers from Taiwan were present on the tour. One supposed influencer mentioned prominently in related reports was Lee Tung-en (李東恩), who does not appear in Taiwanese news reports or other sources outside the PRC. Another participant, identified as “veteran Taiwanese broadcast journalist Fan Qiwei (樊奇為), likewise appears only in PRC news reports related to cross-straits ties — and in 2022 was mentioned in propaganda reports along with his wife as “Tianjin’s most beautiful family.”

All China Journalists Association Signs Agreement with the Association of Overseas Chinese media in Europe

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The All-China Journalists Association (中華全國新聞工作者協會) signed a cooperation memorandum with the Association of Overseas Chinese Media in Europe (歐洲華文傳媒協會) on December 2, 2024, during a delegation visit to Austria. The agreement establishes frameworks for joint exchange visits, news interviews, external communication, news seminars, and cultural activities between the organizations. The memorandum also creates an overseas Chinese media “journalists’ home” to support Chinese media professionals in Europe. The All-China Journalists Association, a state-affiliated organization that operates under Chinese Communist Party leadership, has been criticized by press freedom advocates for its role in China’s media control system.  

CMG Signs Media Cooperation Agreement with Antara News Agency

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On May 25, 2025, China Media Group (中央廣播電視總台) and Indonesia’s Antara News Agency (安塔拉通訊社) signed a cooperation memorandum during Chinese Premier Li Qiang’s (李強) official visit to Indonesia. The agreement, witnessed by Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and Premier Li, was part of eight bilateral cooperation deals signed between the two governments. The memorandum establishes cooperation in content exchange, joint production, technical exchanges, and personnel exchanges between the Chinese state broadcaster and Indonesia’s national news agency. China Media Group, established in 2018, is under direct control of the Chinese Communist Party’s Central Propaganda Department. Antara News Agency, founded in 1937 by independence activists, operates as Indonesia’s national news agency with branches in Beijing, Kuala Lumpur, and other global locations.

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Gives Interview to Singapore Media Outlets

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On September 8, 2012, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Fu Ying (傅瑩) gave an interview to Singapore’s The Straits Times and Lianhe Zaobao (聯合早報) during her official visit. Fu employed typical Chinese diplomatic rhetoric, emphasizing “mutual benefit,” “win-win cooperation,” and “peaceful development” while describing China-ASEAN relations as “extraordinary.” She positioned China as exercising “self-restraint” on South China Sea disputes while arguing other parties made “provocations.” She framed China’s military modernization as necessary for “peaceful development” rather than assertiveness. Fu characterized U.S. “rebalancing” to Asia with cautious language about its “largely military” focus. The messaging reflected standard Chinese diplomatic communication patterns, presenting China as a responsible regional power while subtly critiquing other actors through measured phrasing designed for international media consumption.

Xinhua and ATV Sign Media Cooperation Agreement

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China’s Xinhua News Agency (新華社) and Hungary’s ATV Media Group signed a memorandum of understanding on May 2, 2024, in Budapest to strengthen cooperation across multiple levels, including news and information exchanges and personnel communications. Xinhua President Fu Hua (傅華) and ATV CEO Tamas Kovacs jointly signed the agreement during the 75th anniversary year of China-Hungary diplomatic relations, just days before President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Hungary. Fu stated that Xinhua was willing to work with ATV to consolidate “the bridge of friendship” of China-Hungary cultural exchanges and enhance cooperation in new media technologies. ATV, established in 1989 as Hungary’s first private television channel and currently owned by the Hungarian Faith Church, focuses on news and current affairs programming. According to Xinhua, the agreement builds on years of existing cooperation between the two organizations in translation, publishing, and marketing activities.

Xinhua Signs MoU with Mehr Media

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Iranian Mehr Media Group and China’s Xinhua News Agency signed a memorandum of understanding on October 14, 2024, during the 6th World Media Summit in Urumqi, China. The agreement aims to expand media cooperation, strengthen information exchange, and develop collaboration in media technologies. Mehr Media Group, which includes Mehr News Agency and the English-language Tehran Times, also published the Farsi translation of Xinhua’s “Humanomics in the New Era” report during the summit. The three-day summit, themed “Artificial Intelligence and Media Transformation,” gathered over 500 participants from 106 countries and regions, including representatives from 208 mainstream media outlets. Xinhua’s president called for media organizations to embrace AI innovation while preserving human control, saying they should “proactively align with the technological wave” while ensuring “humans should have the final say in human-machine interaction.”

Chinese Embassy Hosts Zimbabwe China Film Festival

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The 2025 Zimbabwe-China Film Festival opened in Harare on August 5, attended by Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe Zhou Ding (周鼎) and over 200 officials and diplomatic representatives. The festival, co-hosted by the Chinese Embassy, China’s National Film Administration, and Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Sport, Entertainment, Arts and Culture, featured four Chinese films, including Panda Plan, YOLO, The Captain, and Red Sea Operation. Ambassador Zhou emphasized that the festival demonstrated China’s “Global Civilization Initiative” and aimed to deepen cultural understanding during Zimbabwe’s 45th year of diplomatic relations with China. Deputy Director Luo Yang (羅楊) of China’s National Film Administration noted this year marks the 130th anniversary of world cinema and 120th of Chinese cinema, expressing hopes for expanded film industry cooperation. Zimbabwean Deputy Minister of Sport, Entertainment, Arts and Culture Jessaya welcomed the festival as supporting the country’s “Film Strategy 2025-2030,” while a representative from Zimbabwe’s Film Association praised the strengthened bilateral cultural exchange.

Xinhua Signs Five International Media Agreements

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On December 2, 2023, China’s state news agency Xinhua News Agency (新華社) signed cooperation agreements with multiple foreign media outlets and institutions during the 5th World Media Summit in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province. The agreements, covering news exchanges, personnel visits, and integrated media development, were signed by Fu Hua (傅華), president of Xinhua News Agency, alongside representatives from Argentina, the Philippines, Russia, Burundi, and Barbados. María Bernarda Llorente, president of Argentina’s state news agency Télam, described the agreement as having “great significance” for strengthening media collaboration between the two countries. Luis Ausan Morente from the Philippine News Agency expressed hopes for increased personnel exchanges, while Andrey Pershin from Russia’s Rossiyskaya Gazeta said the agreement “opened up new prospects for collaboration.” The 5th World Media Summit, themed “Boosting global confidence, promoting media development,” attracted over 450 participants from 101 countries and regions, including representatives of 197 mainstream media outlets. Xinhua reports having signed cooperation agreements with over 3,600 institutions worldwide, including media outlets, government departments, and higher learning institutions.