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Archives: Dispatches

All Lingua Sinica Dispatches

Bangkok Post

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The Bangkok Post, founded on August 1, 1946, is Thailand’s oldest English-language newspaper still in publication. Published in broadsheet and digital formats, it maintains a daily circulation of 110,000 copies with 80 percent distributed in Bangkok. The newspaper was established by former OSS officer Alexander MacDonald and Thai associate Prasit Lulitanond (ประสิทธิ์ ลุลิตานนท์), initially selling for one baht per four-page issue. Now owned by Bangkok Post Public Company Limited (SET: POST), whose major shareholders include the Chirathivat family, South China Morning Post, and GMM Grammy, the publication employs journalists, including foreign nationals. The Bangkok Post is widely considered Thailand’s newspaper of record and portrays itself as comparatively free in a country where media censorship is common, though critics have noted instances of self-censorship on sensitive topics. The South China Morning Post, founded in 1903 by Tse Tsan-tai (謝纘泰) and Alfred Cunningham, was acquired by Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group (阿里巴巴集團) in 2015 for $266 million.

Chinese Premier Publishes Article in Thai Media Outlets

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Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (李克強) published a signed article in five Thai newspapers on November 2, 2019, ahead of attending East Asian cooperation leaders’ meetings in Bangkok. The piece appeared in Matichon, Khaosod, Prachachat, Bangkok Post and Sing Sian Rit Pao (星暹日報). Li’s article discussed China-ASEAN economic ties, noting China had been ASEAN’s largest trading partner for ten consecutive years while ASEAN became China’s second-largest trading partner in 2019. He mentioned ongoing South China Sea negotiations and highlighted the upcoming 45th anniversary of China-Thailand diplomatic relations in 2020. The piece was published as Li prepared for his third official visit to Thailand as the premier.

Xi Pens Article in Greek Newspaper Before Visit

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Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) published a signed article titled “Let the Wisdom of Ancient Civilizations Illuminate the Future” (讓古老文明的智慧照鑑未來) in Greece’s Kathimerini newspaper on November 10, 2019. The piece appeared ahead of his three-day state visit to Greece at the invitation of President Prokopis Pavlopoulos (Προκόπης Παυλόπουλος). Xi drew parallels between ancient Chinese and Greek philosophy, emphasizing their shared “human-centered” (以民為本) values while promoting Belt and Road (一帶一路) cooperation. He claimed Piraeus had been transformed into the “Mediterranean’s largest port” through a bilateral partnership with Chinese state-owned COSCO Shipping (中遠海運), though independent analysis shows it ranks as the largest in the eastern Mediterranean and fourth-largest in Europe.

China Propaganda Chief Meets Mexican Presidential Press Office in Beijing

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On September 19, 2012, Liu Yunshan (劉雲山), then Chinese Communist Party Politburo member and head of the Central Propaganda Department (中央宣傳部部長), met with the director of Mexico’s Presidential Press Office at the Great Hall of the People (人民大會堂) in Beijing. According to the official Chinese government report, Liu stated that China-Mexico relations had maintained “good development momentum” (良好發展勢頭) over 40 years of diplomatic relations and expressed desire to “deepen strategic partnership” (深入發展戰略伙伴關係). The Chinese report stated that Liu called for strengthened news media exchanges, particularly in “new media” (新媒體), to allegedly “deepen political mutual trust” (深化政治互信). The Mexican official reportedly agreed that cooperation serves “common interests” (共同利益) and expressed interest in establishing “regular exchange mechanisms” (經常性的交流機制). The meeting included Wang Chen (王晨), director of the State Council Information Office (國務院新聞辦公室), China’s foreign propaganda agency.

Chinese Ambassador Attends Media Forum on PRC Anniversary

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On September 18, 2019, the Chinese Embassy in Mexico, under Ambassador Zhu Qingqiao (祝青橋), co-hosted a media forum with the Latin American branch of China Today (今日中國) and the Mexican Senate to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China. The event, titled “China-Mexico and China-Latin America Relations in the New Era” (新時代的中墨、中拉關係), gathered over 100 participants including Mexican Senate committee chairs, Foreign Ministry officials, and media executives from both countries. Ambassador Zhu highlighted China’s transformation over 70 years from a “poor agricultural nation” to the world’s second-largest economy and from an “isolated and conservative country” to an active participant in global governance, according to the Chinese Embassy. Mexican officials praised China’s development achievements and emphasized shared interests as developing nations, expressing Mexico’s commitment to prioritizing relations with China and participating in the Belt and Road Initiative (一帶一路). The forum featured discussions on objective bilateral reporting and strengthening media cooperation, with live broadcasts on Mexican Parliament TV and China Today‘s Spanish Facebook account.

2018 China-Latin America Media Forum

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The 2018 China-Latin America Media Forum took place in Buenos Aires, Argentina on November 19, 2018, focusing on “Deepening Media Cooperation to Help Build a China-Latin America Community with a Shared Future,” according to Xinhua News Agency. Representatives discussed media’s role in bilateral cooperation and new media platforms. Xinhua reported that a Brazilian representative from a financial information group claimed that media plays an “incomparable role” in cooperation, allowing audiences to receive “first-hand information” rather than filtered news from Europe and the United States, language that closely mirrors Chinese state media talking points about Western media bias—as reported by Xinhua. Alejandro Ramos Esquivel (亞歷杭德羅·拉莫斯·埃斯基維爾), who served as Notimex’s Director-General from 2013-2018, reportedly stated the forum brought together diverse media organizations to analyze cooperation trends, predicting collaboration would “flourish” as China’s “Belt and Road Initiative” gains influence. The event highlighted opportunities in website development and capacity building.

Secretariat of Media and Public Communication

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Argentina’s Federal System of Public Media and Content (Sistema Federal de Medios y Contenidos Públicos) was created on December 10, 2015, through Decree 12/2015 under President Mauricio Macri. Initially headed by Hernán Lombardi, the system oversees Argentina’s public media ecosystem, including Télam news agency, public television and radio networks, digital channels, and cultural centers. In 2018, it was downgraded from ministerial status to secretariat level. Following President Javier Milei’s inauguration in December 2023, the secretariat was transferred to the Communication and Press Secretariat of the Presidency through Decree 45/2023. The entity manages platforms including TV Pública, Radio Nacional, and the Centro Cultural Kirchner.

Xinhua President Meets Mexican News Agency Head

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Cai Mingzhao (蔡名照), President of Xinhua News Agency, met with Alejandro Ramos Esquivel, Director General of Mexico’s state news agency Notimex, in Beijing on September 22, 2015. During the meeting, Cai stated that despite geographical distance, China and Mexico share “long-standing friendship” (源远流长). Emphasizing media as a tool of bilateral exchange, Cai described news media as bearing “an important mission in promoting friendly exchanges between the two countries” (增进两国之间友好交往的重要使命). Cai stated that Xinhua prioritizes reporting on Mexico and Latin America, and expressed desire to strengthen cooperation with Notimex across various fields, building on what he described as “over 30 years of close collaboration” (30多年密切合作). Ramos said Xinhua’s work in new media left a “deep impression” (留下深刻印象) and stated his agency “wishes to further strengthen cooperation” (愿进一步加强合作) in promoting national images and addressing technological challenges.

Notimex

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Notimex, formerly known as Agencia Mexicana de Noticias, was Mexico’s official state news agency until its dissolution in December 2023. Founded on August 20, 1968, to cover the Mexico City Olympics, the agency operated for over five decades under government ownership. The agency underwent reform in June 2006, changing its name and establishing what it described as “genuine editorial independence” through governance by a board with representatives from various state entities. Notimex ceased operations in June 2020 following a strike that began in February of that year. Sanjuana Martínez, appointed in March 2019, was the first woman to serve as Director-General before the Mexican Senate approved the agency’s “definitive closure” in December 2023.