Activity Type: Media Cooperation Agreement

Agence Kampuchea Presse and Xinhua Renew News Exchange Cooperation

Written by CMP Staff on March 23, 2025.

On June 2, 2024, Cambodia’s Agence Kampuchea Presse (AKP) and China’s Xinhua News Agency (新華社) agreed to deepen their existing cooperation, with Xinhua pledging technical assistance to build AKP’s capacity. The bilateral meeting between AKP Director General Sokmom Nimul and visiting Xinhua Editor-in-Chief Lyu Yansong (吕岩松) emphasized the importance of strengthening media cooperation between the two countries. During the discussions, the AKP director general sought Xinhua’s assistance in building AKP’s capacity through experience sharing and a training programme, describing Xinhua’s support as “a model of good friendship between Cambodia and China,” according to the Khmer Times. In response, Lyu Yansong stated his agency wanted to “expand cooperation between Xinhua and AKP to practical news cooperation to build trust between the Chinese and Cambodian people,” as reported by the publication. This commitment follows the renewal of their Agreement on News Exchange Cooperation in February 2023, reflecting the broader strengthening of Cambodia-China relations across multiple sectors.

China Newsweek Cooperation Agreement with Cina in Italia

Written by CMP Staff on March 23, 2025.

In 2011, the bilingual magazine Cina in Italia (世界中国), based in Rome, was accredited by China News Service as a foreign edition of China Newsweek (中国新闻周刊). Founded in 2001 by Chinese journalist Hu Lanbo (胡蘭波), Cina in Italia initially served Chinese communities in Italy before becoming bilingual in 2007 to bridge Chinese and Italian cultures. China News Service (CNS), which publishes China Newsweek, became part of the United Front Work Department (UFWD) in 2018 when its former host organization, the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office, was absorbed into the UFWD. The UFWD coordinates China’s overseas influence operations, particularly targeting Chinese diaspora communities. CNS operates under the United Front Work Department and has editorial guidelines “designed to facilitate the production of propaganda that is tailored to the interests of Chinese individuals who are not residing in mainland China.”

Sichuan Daily and Radio Cooperativa Make Media Deal

Written by CMP Staff on March 23, 2025.

The Sichuan International Communication Center (四川國際傳播中心), operated by the Sichuan Daily Press Group (四川日報報業集團), hosted the signing of a news exchange agreement with Chile’s Radio Cooperativa on August 29, 2024, during the 2024 “Belt and Road” Media Cooperation Forum in Chengdu. The center, which claimed to reach “more than 20 million overseas users,” describes itself as a “key provincial professional institution” under Sichuan’s five-year plan for international communications. Radio Cooperativa, broadcasting since 1935, covers major Chilean cities and provides online content globally. The agencies said they would cooperate on “content interchange, personnel exchange, and activity planning” to promote what they called “people-to-people exchanges” and enhance the “Sino-Chilean Comprehensive Strategic Partnership,” which Chile and China established in 2016. The Sichuan center is part of China’s broader network of International Communication Centers established by provinces under central government supervision to coordinate foreign-directed media efforts.

Xinhua and China Media Group Ink Deals with Sangbad Sangstha and Bangladesh Television

Written by CMP Staff on March 23, 2025.

Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS), Bangladesh’s national news agency, signed cooperation agreements with Xinhua News Agency (新華社) and China Media Group (中央廣播電視總台) on July 10, 2024, during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s state visit to China. BSS Managing Director and Chief Editor Abul Kalam Azad signed memorandums that officials said would “extend beneficial cooperation” in news and information exchange. The agencies reported they would conduct “multilevel and wide-ranging cooperation,” including “personal exchanges, training, and seminars” for journalists and technical experts. The agreements called for what was described as “technological exchanges” and “innovation and development in media technologies,” with officials noting all activities would operate “in accordance with their respective domestic laws.” The signing occurred during a high-level exchange that officials said was meant to enhance “mutual understanding” between the agencies during Hasina’s July 8-10 visit to Beijing.

Star Media Group Partnership with Contemporary World

Written by CMP Staff on March 23, 2025.

Star Media Group (SMG) and China’s Contemporary World magazine (當代世界), which operates under the International Department of the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee, signed a cooperation agreement in Kuala Lumpur on April 2, 2024. SMG CEO Chan Seng Fatt (陳成發) called the partnership a “golden opportunity” that would bridge regional divides through “concerted media collaboration,” acknowledging challenges including “language barriers, cultural misunderstandings, and differing political landscapes.” Contemporary World Magazine Director General Lu Xuejun (盧學軍) said the initiative followed discussions between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in March 2023, describing the media’s role as serving as a “bridge between the countries’ citizens” – typical rhetoric used by Chinese state media to frame overseas media partnerships as cultural exchange rather than external propaganda. The agreement, signed during the Contemporary World: Cultural Exchange roundtable, coincided with Malaysia-China’s 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations celebrations.

Nouvelles d’Europe Collaboration with Xinmin Evening News

Written by CMP Staff on March 23, 2025.

Nouvelles d’Europe (歐洲時報), established in 1983, partnered with Shanghai’s Xinmin Evening News (新民晚報) to launch Europe Weekly (歐洲聯合週報) in Paris in February 2005. The weekly newspaper published on Saturdays and said it focused on “helping Chinese integrate into mainstream European society” and providing information about “development opportunities in China.” The paper described itself as combining “knowledge, entertainment, interactivity, and practicality” with sections on European law, global news, and China-focused content. Nouvelles d’Europe reported that editions were published in France, Austria, Germany, and Hungary, with 36 pages covering topics from “European focus” (歐陸聚焦) to “returning to China guide” (回國指南). The weekly ceased publication in 2008.

China Media Group Signs Four Serbian Media Partnerships

Written by CMP Staff on March 23, 2025.

China Media Group (中央廣播電視總台) signed four cooperation agreements with Serbian media and cultural institutions on May 8, 2024, during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Serbia. CMG Director and Deputy Minister of the Publicity Department Shen Haixiong (慎海雄) signed agreements with Serbia’s Presidential Media Relations Department, Politika newspaper, Radio Television of Serbia, and the Ministry of Culture. The agreements were witnessed by Xi Jinping and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić. Officials said the agreements would promote “people-to-people exchanges” (人文交流) and contribute to building a “China-Serbia community of shared future in the new era” (新時代中塞命運共同體) through “news exchange, joint programming, and technical cooperation” (新聞信息交換、聯合制播節目、技術交流). The agreements were described as part of Xi’s state visit outcomes, with CMG cited as signing the most cooperation documents among participating institutions. Politika is Serbia’s oldest and most influential daily newspaper, founded in 1904.

CMG Inks Media and Tourism Deals in Hungary

Written by CMP Staff on March 23, 2025.

On May 10, 2024, China Media Group (中央廣播電視總台) signed agreements with two Hungarian institutions during President Xi Jinping’s (習近平) state visit to Hungary. The agreements were signed by Shen Haixiong (慎海雄), deputy head of the Publicity Department of the Chinese Communist Party and director of China Media Group, with the Hungarian Media Services Support and Asset Management Fund and the Hungarian Tourism Agency. Xi and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán (維克多·奧班) “witnessed” the signing ceremony, and the agreements were “included in” the list of outcome documents from Xi’s state visit from May 8-10. The memorandums aim to strengthen cultural exchanges through news information exchange, joint program production, and media technology exchange. The Hungarian Media Fund oversees state-owned media outlets, including Hungarian National Television and Radio, while the Tourism Agency, led by CEO Könnyid László (柯尼德·拉斯洛), manages Hungary’s tourism promotion efforts.