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Activity Category: Media Engagement Activity

NRTA Signs MOU with UAE Media Council

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On May 30, 2024, in Beijing, China’s National Radio and Television Administration (国家广播电视总局) and the United Arab Emirates Media Council signed a memorandum of understanding, witnessed by Chinese President Xi Jinping (习近平) and visiting UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The agreement, signed by NRTA Director Cao Shumin (曹淑敏) and UAE National Media Office Director Abdullah, purportedly establishes cooperation in policy communication, content collaboration, program exchanges, personnel exchanges, technology applications, and industry development. According to the Chinese state-affiliated source, the UAE Media Council serves as the government authority responsible for media policy formulation and industry regulation, though the specific details of implementation and the practical scope of this media partnership remain unclear.

Science and Technology Daily Cooperation Partnership with Nouvelles d’Europe

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Nouvelles d’Europe (歐洲時報), described as “the most influential Chinese news organisation in continental Europe” by the publication itself, was established in Paris in 1983, signed a news cooperation memorandum with China’s Science and Technology Daily (科技日報) in November 2023. The agreement, signed on November 24 by Nouvelles d’Europe President Zhong Cheng (鍾誠) and Science and Technology Daily President Zhang Biyong (張碧湧), establishes formal cooperation to “promote the dissemination of scientific and technological innovation achievements.” The partnership involves exchanging news resources in images, text, and video formats, providing coverage of important China-France and China-Europe science and technology news in English. Science and Technology Daily was founded in 1986 by China’s National Science and Technology Commission and other state organizations. Nouvelles d’Europe has expanded from a four-page irregular publication to a comprehensive media group with daily newspapers, websites, cultural centers, and branches across Europe and Beijing.

Chinese-Ukrainian Media Sign Cooperation Agreement

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On June 20, 2019, China’s Science and Technology Daily (科技日報) signed a cooperation agreement with Ukraine’s Uryadovy Kuryer (Government Courier) in Kyiv. Led by Editor-in-Chief Li Ping (李平), the Chinese delegation met with Ukrainian counterparts including Editor-in-Chief Sergii Braga to strengthen media collaboration and information exchange. The agreement facilitates regular content sharing and website cross-linking between these publications. Science and Technology Daily, described as a central major news media and the Party and state’s science and technology news and public opinion position, partnered with Uryadovy Kuryer, Ukraine’s official newspaper of the Cabinet of Ministers. Uryadovy Kuryer, which has been published since October 1990, is among Ukraine’s leading government publications. According to the Chinese source, the Ukrainian newspaper is considered “an important window” for understanding Ukrainian political dynamics and economic developments.

Chinese Embassy Hosts Media Symposium in Senegal

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On December 15, 2015, the Chinese Embassy in Senegal hosted a media symposium focusing on “The Role of Media in China-Senegal Cooperation.” Over 20 journalists from major Senegalese media outlets, including the national television station, state news agency, Future Media television, and official newspapers Le Soleil and Le Quotidien, along with Chinese news agencies such as Xinhua News Agency, China Radio International, and Economic Daily, attended the event. Ambassador Zhang Xun (張迅) highlighted achievements from the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (中非合作論壇) Johannesburg Summit, which took place December 4-5, 2015, describing it as opening “a new era of win-win cooperation and common development” between China and Africa. Participating journalists shared experiences from covering the summit and “highly praised” its outcomes. They agreed that China-Africa and China-Senegal media cooperation has “enormous potential and bright prospects,” emphasizing the importance of expanding communication channels to enhance mutual understanding and promote cooperative development.

China Radio International and the Philippine Presidential Broadcasting Service Launch “Wow China” Broadcast

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Wow China, a collaborative radio program between the Philippine Broadcasting Service (PBS) under the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) and China Radio International (中國國際廣播電台), aired on government station Radyo Pilipinas from 2018 to at least May 2020. China Radio International operates under China Media Group (中央廣播電視總台), which was established in March 2018 through the integration of China Central Television, China National Radio, and China Radio International, and is under the leadership of the Central Propaganda Department, according to HK01‘s report on the official announcement. The program described itself as a “light cultural program” focusing on China-Philippines cultural exchange, but sparked significant backlash in May 2020 amid tensions over the South China Sea and the coronavirus pandemic, with critics calling it “pro-China propaganda” funded by Filipino taxpayers. The controversy intensified as it coincided with the government’s cease and desist order against ABS-CBN, the Philippines’ largest media network, leading lawmakers to question the use of taxpayer money for the program.

3rd BRICS Media Summit Held in South Africa

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On July 19, 2018, Xinhua News Agency (新华通讯社) and South Africa’s Independent Media co-hosted the 3rd BRICS Media Forum in Cape Town, South Africa. According to Xinhua sources, the event reportedly attracted attendance from 48 mainstream media organizations from the five BRICS countries and African nations, though Independent Online confirmed “38 mainstream media organisations from the BRICS bloc as well as African countries” attended. Xinhua reported that African media representatives expressed “expectations for strengthening cooperation with BRICS countries’ media” (期待与金砖国家媒体加强合作). A representative from Kenya’s The Standard (旗帜报) was quoted as saying that “Africa has its own stories to tell the world” (非洲有自己的故事要向世人讲述), echoing narratives promoted by Chinese media about African storytelling. The forum adopted the Cape Town Declaration 2018, which established commitments for content sharing and creating “a united news service between the various BRICS news services.”

China News Delegation Visits Papua New Guinea

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In late April 2018, a five-member Chinese news delegation organized by the All-China Journalists Association (中華全國新聞工作者協會) conducted the first-ever visit by Chinese media representatives to Papua New Guinea (巴布亞新幾內亞), led by Wang Dongmei (王冬梅), secretary of the association’s secretariat. The delegation included members from China Media Group (中央廣播電視總台), Shanghai Broadcasting Network (上海廣播電視台), and Communication University of China (中國傳媒大學). The visit aimed to prepare for coverage of the upcoming APEC summit scheduled for November 2018 in Port Moresby and to establish media cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative framework. The delegation met with local mainstream media, including The Post-Courier (信使郵報) and The National (國民報), as well as the National Broadcasting Corporation (國家廣播公司). Papua New Guinea officials described their preparations for the summit, with “the government providing 800 million kina (approximately 1.6 billion yuan)” for the event, according to local organizers. However, this figure appears questionable when compared to other reported summit costs of approximately $300 million USD. Local media representatives expressed interest in collaborating with Chinese counterparts and covering China-related stories in Papua New Guinea.

China and UK Discuss Media Collaboration

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National Radio and Television Administration (NRTA) Deputy Director Dong Xin (董昕) met with Douglas Alexander, UK Minister of State for Trade Policy and Economic Security, on April 11 to discuss deepening Sino-British audiovisual cooperation. The officials exchanged views on implementing the “China-UK Cultural Industry Policy Dialogue” during Alexander’s visit to China. According to the NRTA, Dong expressed China’s willingness to “further deepen policy communication, content cooperation, and personnel exchanges” in the broadcasting sector. Alexander agreed with China’s proposals and stated that the UK “highly values strengthening cooperation with China in broadcasting and television.” During his visit, Alexander raised concerns with senior Chinese and Hong Kong officials about Liberal Democrat MP Wera Hobhouse being denied entry to Hong Kong. Hobhouse was refused entry at Hong Kong International Airport on April 10 without explanation, marking the first time a British MP has faced such treatment since 1997.

Chinese State TV Signs Deal with Saudi Broadcaster

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China Media Group (中央廣播電視總臺) and the Saudi Broadcasting Authority signed a memorandum of understanding in December 2022 during President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Saudi Arabia, which coincided with the first China-Arab States Summit (首屆中國—阿拉伯國家峰會) and China-Gulf Cooperation Council Summit (中國—海灣阿拉伯國家合作委員會峰會). According to Chinese state media, the agreement was listed among the “important bilateral cooperation achievements” of Xi’s visit. The two broadcasters plan to establish what officials describe as a “regular cooperation mechanism” for program exchanges, personnel visits, and experience sharing, which they claim will “consolidate the friendly public opinion foundation” between the two nations. The Saudi Broadcasting Authority is the kingdom’s state broadcaster, operating multiple television and radio channels with signals covering Saudi Arabia and several Arab countries. This cooperation reflects expanding ties between the broadcasters in recent years.