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Archives: Dispatches

All Lingua Sinica Dispatches

Foreign Journalists Join Maritime Silk Road Media Tour

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On November 30, journalists from Fiji, Malaysia, Indonesia, and other Asia-Pacific nations visited the SuperX Farm demonstration facility operated by XAG (極飛科技), a Guangzhou-based agricultural technology company, as part of the Maritime Silk Road Joint Media Tour organized by “South,” the English-language platform of the Nanfang International Communication Center (南方國際傳播中心), or NICC. NICC is a provincial-level ICC under the CCP-run Nanfang Media Group (南方報業傳媒集團), which publishes the Nanfang Daily newspaper and other publications in China’s southern Guangdong province. The tour showcased drones, robots, and AI-driven precision farming operations. Participants included Ritika Devi from the Fijian Broadcasting Corporation, Himanshu Bhatt from Malaysia’s The Sun, and a journalist from Indonesia’s Antara News Agency. According to the reports, Devi stated that “with drone technology that reduces labor, we can overcome these challenges,” while Bhatt described it as “a good marriage between technology and a necessary mission.” The Indonesian representative was quoted as praising China’s technological prowess, emphasizing their country’s technological needs, and calling on Chinese investors to explore opportunities in Indonesia.

UNICEF Partners with Shanghai State Media Outlet

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On December 4, The Paper (澎湃新闻), a CCP-run media outlet in the municipality of Shanghai, signed an MoU with UNICEF China, pledging to jointly promote children’s issues, including climate change, mental health, and early childhood development. The partnership grants the Party-controlled outlet — which describes itself as a “responsible internet-based mainstream media platform” — a formal relationship with the UN agency to advance coverage of children’s rights. The MOU was signed by The Paper’s editor-in-chief Liu Yonggang (刘永钢) and UNICEF representative Cynthia McCaffrey (桑爱玲), establishing what both sides characterized as a “strategic partnership.” According to the UNICEF website, McCaffrey was the China representative for the office through October 2022, when she was promoted as head of the India office.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

16th Media Forum China-Germany

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The 16th Media Forum China Germany (第16屆中德媒體圓桌對話會) was held in Shenzhen from November 10-13, 2025, co-hosted by the state-run Global Times (環球時報) newspaper and China Media Management Inc (CMM-I传媒咨询有限公司), a Beijing-based consulting and business development firm originally founded in Hong Kong with ties to Germany and the UK. While Chinese state media characterized the event as receiving “support from the United Nations,” this appears to refer solely to the online participation of the UN Resident Coordinator in China, not to institutional endorsement or substantive UN involvement documented in any public record. The Global Times reported that participants discussed China’s four “Global Initiatives,” one of Xi Jinping’s signature policy initiatives on development, security, civilization, and governance. Attendees also toured Shenzhen’s technology parks. The Global Times editor-in-chief said the forum would “make new contributions to deepening the China-Germany all-round strategic partnership.” The forum has been held annually since 2010 , with support at least until 2016 by the Robert Bosch Foundation, as an effort to encourage exchange between Chinese and German media outlets. The media event has received continued criticism in recent years from activists who argue that the Forum allows Chinese state-controlled media representatives to promote official Chinese narratives.

UNICEF

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UNICEF, or United Nations Children’s Fund, is the United Nations agency responsible for providing humanitarian and developmental aid to children worldwide, working globally to uphold children’s rights and protect them from harm and discrimination. The organization has been present in China since 1979, collaborating with the government and local partners to promote policies that advance children’s rights and ensure that vulnerable children benefit from national development. UNICEF’s work in China encompasses child protection, health and development, education, and social policy, while also providing humanitarian assistance during emergencies. UNICEF’s media cooperation in China includes a 2025 MoU with The Paper (澎湃), an online outlet under Shanghai’s CCP.

Government of Fiji

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The Government of Fiji operates as a parliamentary democratic republic established on October 10, 1970, following independence from the United Kingdom. The government consists of executive, legislative, and judicial branches, with its seat in Suva, the island nation’s capital. The president, who serves as the head of state, is appointed by the parliament for three-year terms, while the prime minister, serving as the head of government, is appointed directly by the president. The unicameral parliament comprises 55 members elected by proportional representation. The highest judicial authorities include the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal, the High Court, and the Magistrates’ Court.  

The Paper

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The Paper (澎湃新聞) is a news platform operated by the CCP-run Shanghai United Media Group (上海報業集團) that launched on July 22, 2014. Media scholar and former Southern Weekly journalist Fang Kecheng has described the outlet as having “the face of commercial media, and the heart of Party media,” while David Bandurski, the director of the China Media Project, called it an experiment in producing propaganda content that can “attract” and “attach” to mobile audiences. Between 2018 and 2023, The Paper said it received over 400 domestic and international awards. The news platform covers current affairs, finance, and lifestyle content through a mobile-first app and website. It features sections including “Striking Tigers” (打虎記) for anticorruption coverage (generally focusing on small-time cases of malfeasance), and “Translating China” (譯中國), which aggregates foreign reporting on China. 

South

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“South” is a primary external propaganda brand of the South International Communication Center (南方國際傳播中心), or SICC, a state media organization under the Nanfang Media Group (南方報業傳媒集團), officially launched on July 3, 2025. “South” is a rebranding of its predecessor, “GDToday,” which was established in November 2023. The brand, which has a presence on most overseas social media platforms, is both a reference to Guangdong as a southern province, and an awkward acronym for “Service, Orientation, Unity, Tellers and Horizon,” in with “tellers” is a reference to Xi Jinping’s injunction to “tell China’s story well.”

AGI and Xinhua Sign News Sharing Agreement

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On April 8, 2014, Agenzia Giornalistica Italia (AGI) and Xinhua News Agency (新華社) signed a memorandum of understanding for collaboration on economic news sharing and content exchange between Italy and China. The agreement was signed by both agencies’s CEO’s. According to AGI’s announcement, the partnership would cover “sharing of news, expertise and experiences on commercial and cultural processes between Italy and China,” as well as the joint organization of training activities.

Ente Nazionale ldrocarburi

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Eni S.p.A. ( Ente Nazionale Idrocarburi) is an Italian multinational energy company established on February 10, 1953. The company was founded under the leadership of Enrico Mattei, who served as its first chairman, to rebuild Italy’s energy policy and secure the country’s energy independence following World War II. Headquartered in Rome, Eni operates across oil and gas exploration and production, refining, marketing, and, increasingly, renewable energy. The Italian government maintains control through a 31.835% combined stake held by the Ministry of Economy and Finance and state-controlled Cassa Depositi e Prestiti.