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Activity Type: Media Cooperation Agreement

CMG launches Co-Productions with TV5MONDE

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On October 24, 2024, the Chinese Communist Party-run China Media Group (CMG) signed several co-production deals for film and television projects with France. According to Chinese state media coverage, the deals marked the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. CMG President Shen Haixiong (沈海雄) emphasized in related remarks that the projects would “provide a stronger bridge” for the two nations’ peoples. During the ceremony, CMG signed a cooperation memorandum with French TV network TV5MONDE for a series of short films depicting historical relations between the two countries, titled “The Witnesses of 60 Years of History.” Attendees included the President of TV5MONDE, French documentary director Jacques Malaterre, who also collaborated with CCTV9 in 2024, and personnel from the Chinese Embassy in France.

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.

CMG and IRNA Sign Cooperation MOU

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Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), Iran’s state-controlled news agency, signed a cooperation memorandum with the state-run China Media Group on September 2, 2025, during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Tianjin. The agreement was among 14 bilateral media cooperation deals CMG struck with broadcasters from 13 countries during the summit, covering news reporting, joint programming, cultural activities, technological innovation, industry development, personnel exchanges, and media resource sharing. The CMG partnership with IRNA is part of China’s broader efforts to strengthen SCO media cooperation.

Albania Signs Broadcasting Agreement with NRTA

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On October 19, 2019, Albania’s public broadcaster, Radio Televizioni Shqiptar, and China’s National Radio and Television Administration (国家广播电视总局), a ministry-level agency under the CCP’s Central Propaganda Department supervising state-run television and radio enterprises, signed an agreement to broadcast Chinese television programs in Tirana, the Albanian capital. The deal granted the Albanian broadcaster rights to air “China: Time of Xi” (习近平治国方略：中国这五年), a joint production between Discovery Networks and China’s State Council Information Office that highlighted — and lauded — President Xi Jinping’s policies, as well as the feature film “Kids of Wuzhumuqin Town” (烏珠穆沁的孩子) a children’s drama about Mongolian culture and youth sports. The Chinese Ambassador to Albania stated that the documentary would “open a new window for Albanians to know China.” The agreement also covered cooperation on exchanging television productions, documentaries, cartoons, and staff training.

MailOnline and People’s Daily Sign Content-Sharing Agreement

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In April 2016, the British online newspaper MailOnline entered into a content-sharing arrangement with the People’s Daily, the official newspaper of the Chinese Communist Party. Under the deal, the two outlets agreed to exchange approximately 40 articles per week, covering current affairs, travel, and lifestyle, as well as content from both the Chinese and English editions of the Global Times (環球時報), a tabloid newspaper under the People’s Daily. Articles published under the agreement carried a disclosure banner identifying their origin. MailOnline publisher Martin Clarke, confirming the arrangement to The Guardian, said “there is no cash involved” and made the odd suggestion that the Party-run mouthpiece, which is generally full of highly specialized Chinese political discourse, would help the outlet “better understand the country’s social and political structures.” 

La República Signs Cooperation Deal with People’s Daily

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In September 2023, marking the 35th anniversary of China-Uruguay diplomatic relations, Uruguayan newspaper La República established cooperative relations with the People’s Daily, the flagship newspaper of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party. China selected La República to develop a special publication on bilateral diplomatic relations, and the newspaper had a journalist training in Beijing at the time, publisher Juan Blanco stated in a September 11, 2023 People’s Daily interview. Blanco praised the Belt and Road News Network — operated by People’s Daily and hosted on its name servers — for providing “first-hand information from a truthful, reliable source issued from the origin.” Blanco said the newspaper expected “more cooperation with Chinese media.” The cooperation preceded Uruguay’s November 2023 state visit to China where President Lacalle Pou signed a Belt and Road cooperation plan. Blanco emphasized that ideological differences should not hinder cooperation, stating “people unite by other concepts” and media relationships form “the first encounter” of information exchange. The newspaper publishes China-related content nearly daily. Blanco participated in the February 2026 Belt and Road Media Cooperation Forum journalist delegation.

BNR and CMG Sign a Cooperation Agreement

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On June 4, 2025, the Bulgarian National Radio (BNR) and the China Media Group (中央廣播電視總台) signed a cooperation agreement in Beijing. According to BRN, the deal encompasses the exchange of news, music, and digital media content, as well as radio programs and information in the fields of culture and tourism, and the joint implementation of media projects — though the announcement made no mention of what this would entail. The China Media Group operates more than 40 television channels and 17 radio frequency bands, and broadcasts in several languages, including Bulgarian.

CMG Signs MOU with Malaysian National News Agency

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On November 5, 2024, China Media Group (中央廣播電視總台) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) during Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s four-day working visit to China. Both countries’ prime ministers witnessed the document exchange ceremony. The agreement establishes a routine cooperation mechanism between the two mainstream media organizations, focusing on content sharing, joint program production, and personnel exchanges. This partnership aims to expand cultural communication channels and contribute to the development of China-Malaysia relations. Bernama, Malaysia’s official news agency, was established by an Act of Parliament in 1967 and began operations in May 1968.