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Activity Category: Media Engagement Activity

Chinese Ambassador Pens Article for French Paper After China-EU Summit

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On July 25, 2018, Les Échos published an article by Chinese Ambassador to France Zhai Jun (翟隽) titled “China’s Position on Avoiding a Global Trade War,” following the 20th China-EU Leaders’ Meeting held on July 16, 2018 in Beijing. In the article, Zhai accused the United States of “implementing protectionism under the banner of its own priorities” and characterized US actions as “wielding the tariff bludgeon,” claiming these measures “forced China to retaliate.” The ambassador’s commentary addressed the trade disputes triggered when President Trump signed a memorandum on March 22, 2018, directing tariffs on Chinese goods following a Section 301 investigation into China’s technology transfer and intellectual property practices. The US implemented 34 billion dollars in tariffs on Chinese goods on July 6, 2018, with China retaliating the same day. The ambassador also advocated for closer China-Europe cooperation and called for alignment between China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and European infrastructure plans to achieve what he called “mutual benefits.”

China Media Group Signs Cooperation With AFP

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On October 25, 2023, China Media Group (中央廣播電視總台) and Agence France-Presse (AFP) signed a cooperation agreement in Paris. The agreement aimed to “strengthen cooperation in new media, artificial intelligence and other aspects” by leveraging the 2024 Paris Olympics broadcast. Shen Haixiong (慎海雄), CMG’s President, said that this cooperation was among CMG’s priorities in 2023. During Shen’s trip to Europe, he also signed Olympic broadcasting agreements with the Paris 2024 Organizing Committee on October 23 and with the International Olympic Committee in Lausanne, Switzerland, on October 27.

Xinhua and AFP Mark 60th Anniversary of News Exchange

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On September 12, 2017, Xinhua News Agency President Cai Mingzhao (蔡名照) met with Agence France-Presse (AFP) President Emmanuel Hoog in Beijing to discuss cooperation in new media development, photography, short videos, financial information, and technology services. The meeting marked the 60th anniversary of news exchange agreements between the two agencies, which began in 1957. Cai expressed hopes to “increase communications and cooperation.” At the same time, AFP’s president said that the agencies had “maintained long-term cooperative relations” and hoped to “share more experiences in the future.” No formal agreement was signed during the meeting.

Chinese Ambassador to France Pens Article in Le Monde Diplomatique

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On October 30, 2025, Chinese Ambassador to France Deng Li (邓励) published an article in France’s Le Monde Diplomatique titled “What kind of world does China hope to build?” promoting Beijing’s vision for reforming global governance and Xi Jinping’s four major initiatives — the Global Development Initiative (GDI), Global Security Initiative (GSI), Global Civilization Initiative (GCI), and Global Governance Initiative (GGI). In an underhanded reference to the United States, the article accused unnamed countries of “prioritizing their own interests” and undermining the multilateral order, while asserting China’s “contributions to the world.” The ambassador also said that “for over 40 years, China has never launched a single war against another country.” However, China engaged in the 1979 Sino-Vietnamese War, which Beijing initiated, and the 1962 Sino-Indian War, during which Chinese forces attacked deep into northeastern India. 

Chinese Ambassador Interviewed by Nouvelles d’Europe

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On September 3, 2025, Nouvelles d’Europe (歐洲時報), a Chinese-language newspaper founded in Paris in 1983 and now operated under the official China News Service and the United Front Work Department of the CCP, published a written interview with the Chinese ambassador to France to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. In the interview with the newspaper, whose majority shares are held by by the Hong Kong registered Asia Culture Enterprise Limited, or “Ya Zhou Wen Hua Enterprises,” an entity founded in 1997 by the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office (OCAO), the ambassador promoted China’s version of WWII history and portrayed the PRC as a defender of multilateralism. He claimed China was “the main battlefield in the East” and emphasized Taiwan’s return to China as part of the post-war order, while portraying the PRC as the first to sign the UN Charter. However, it was the Republic of China (ROC) under Chiang Kai-shek’s Nationalist government that signed the 1942 UN Declaration and 1945 UN Charter as the leading force fighting Japan. The PRC was established in 1949, four years after the end of WWII. 

China Media Group and BFM Business Co-produce Anniversary Program

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Marking the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France on January 27, 2024, China Media Group (CMG) announced the launch of a special program co-produced with France’s BFM Business called “Brilliant Sixty Years: High-Level Dialogue on the 60th Anniversary of China-France Diplomatic Relations” (璀璨甲子 中法建交60周年高端對話). The program featured an interview with former French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin, with video remarks from Shen Haixiong (慎海雄), vice minister of the Central Propaganda Department and CMG president, and Lu Shaye (盧沙野), then-Chinese Ambassador to France. The pro-Beijing Hong Kong outlet Wen Wei Po described the collaboration as showcasing “the broad future of the China-France comprehensive strategic partnership.” The program was broadcast on BFM Business and CGTN French, serving China’s diplomatic messaging around the anniversary, and was also promoted on the nightly official news broadcast on CCTV. 

Le Figaro Runs Xi Jinping Article

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On March 23, 2019, Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) published a signed article in France’s Le Figaro (費加羅報) ahead of his second state visit to France. The article, titled “Moving Together Toward Common Development” (在共同發展的道路上繼續並肩前行), appeared before Xi arrived in Nice on March 24. In the piece, Xi reviewed developments in China-France relations since his first state visit in 2014, noting that bilateral trade had grown by over 13 billion US dollars and mutual investment exceeded 20 billion US dollars. Xi stated China would “open wider” and welcomed French companies to invest in China while expressing hope that Chinese businesses would “do better in France.” Radio France Internationale (RFI) reported that Chinese state media purchased “at least over one million euros” in advertising space across multiple French outlets during the visit, with content from Xinhua News Agency (新華社) appearing prominently.

Chinese Ambassador Pens Article for Senegalese Media

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On December 15, 2025, the Chinese Ambassador to Senegal  published a signed article in Senegalese newspapers Le Soleil and Le Quotidien, promoting the “Initiative on Cooperation Supporting Modernization in Africa,” a joint framework launched by China and South Africa at the November 22, 2025, G20 summit in Johannesburg. The article outlined six principles: “justice and fairness,” “openness and win-win,” “people-centered,” “diversity and inclusiveness,” “ecological friendliness,” and “peace and security”—rhetoric consistent with China’s  framing of Africa engagement through concepts like “amity, equality, win-win, common development.” The ambassador wrote that the Global South “can completely achieve leapfrog development through its own efforts,” positioning Chinese modernization as an alternative development model. 

CMG Hosts Exchange Event in Munich

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On October 11, 2024, the China Media Group (中央廣播電視總台) hosted a cultural exchange event in Germany to celebrate the 52nd anniversary of China-Germany diplomatic relations and the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the all-round strategic partnership, which was announced in March 2014. The event took place in Munich, where, according to media reports, approximately 100 attendees from various sectors, including CMG’s vice president, representatives from the Chinese Embassy, and officials from the Bavarian State Ministry of Economic Affairs, Energy and Technology, were in attendance. During the event, the German Vogel Communications Group signed a Memorandum of Understanding with CMG Europe, which, according to Vogel’s announcement, would include journalist exchange programs to China. The event also highlighted CMG’s cooperation with German broadcaster ZDF on documentary co-productions.