By Stephen Asante
GNA Special Correspondent, Beijing, China
Beijing, March 15, GNA – China’s opening-up reforms culminating in the growing media pluralism and enhanced exchange programmes have been lauded by some foreign journalists.
The trend was imperative to deepen advocacy while advancing a diverse and inclusive society to enhance a community of shared future for mankind, the journalists noted.
“Bringing together distant nationalities in an atmosphere of harmony and respect might seem quite impossible. However, this is another task that China, as host, has accomplished,” Yesey Perez Lopez, a Cuban journalist, noted at a meeting of some selected foreign journalists and Chinese officials in Beijing.
He advocated the sustenance of such collaboration to expose media professionals in developing countries to the emerging developments in journalism practice.
Monica Cheru, a Zimbabwean journalist, sharing her perspective, lauded the Chinese people for their resilience, sense of hospitality and communal spirit.
On exchange programmes, she said some initiatives such as the ones currently being implemented by the China International Press Communication Centre (CIPCC) had given participants an insight into how the Chinese society worked.
Ayman Abdelwahed Mohamed Amer, an Egyptian journalist, hoped the Centre would work assiduously to bolster cooperation amongst journalists in developing countries.
He stressed the need for media professionals to engage more in advocacy work in addressing the needs of the vulnerable and oppressed in society.
While commending the People’s Republic of China for its commitment to a stable and orderly multipolar environment, the Egyptian journalist advised the professionals to endeavour to use their platforms to advocate peace amidst the mounting global conflicts.
Nikhil Kumar, a Fijian journalist, said the CIPCC exchange programmes ought to be taken seriously for the benefit of media pluralism.
Ms Ping Du, Principal Officer of the Secretariat of China Public Diplomacy Association, gave the assurance that China would not relent in opening its doors to foreign journalists as the country sought to deepen multilateralism.
On the state of the country’s media industry, she indicated that, as of 2024, there were over 1.1 billion internet users, 25 billion newspapers, and 1.8 billion magazines in Ghina.
“Chinese citizens enjoy ample platforms for free expression,” she stated.
Mr Yu Lei, the CIPCC Director, praised participants of the 2025 Exchange Programme for their sense of professionalism and commitment to the programme.
China, he said, had resolved to share its experiences with foreign journalists, especially in the era of modernisation, science and technology, to enhance international relations.
He underscored the need for contemporary media professionals to embrace cutting-edge technology to ensure efficiency in their work.
The 2025 Exchange Programme is being organised under the auspices of the CIPCC, in collaboration with the China Public Diplomacy Association (CPDA).
The participants are drawn from Africa, Asia Pacific, Eurasia, Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as Arab, Central and Eastern European countries.
The topics being discussed focus on China’s diplomatic mission and international relations, socio-economic development, diplomacy, culture, science and technology, as well as democracy.
GNA
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