Jiang Jianguo (R), Minister of the State Council Information Office of China and Nassima Cheriet (C), head of media production and international cooperation section of League of Arab States, attend the dialogue meeting in Cairo, Egypt, Jan. 18, 2016.
Participants in the "Chinese-Arab Media Dialogue Conference," which kicked off in Cairo on Monday, called for enhancing means of mutual media cooperation, deeming it as "witnesses and protectors for Sino-Arab friendship."
The conference came at the eve of the Chinese President Xi Jinping's five-day tour to the region, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Iran.
"The Chinese-Arab media is a momentum for change and a registrar for the events," said Jiang Jianguo, Minister of the State Council Information Office of China.
Jiang suggested four ideas for increasing mutual cooperation in the media.
The first is cooperation in raising the voice of peace and common development, as he said "the media personnel has a role in directing the public opinion and upholding the peace norms at wider range, and to positively enhance consensus in views and increase the positive energy towards peaceful development."
He added that "we should cooperate hand in hand to combat all shapes of terrorism firmly."
Secondly, Jiang suggested that working together will create positive environment for the public opinion and will draw energetic vision for profitable cooperation for both China and the Arab countries.
The third point focused on setting strong bases for the public opinion and the traditional ties between the two sides.
"The media means are messengers who work on boosting friendship and communication among the people," he illustrated.
He added in the fourth suggested idea for mutual cooperation that the media office in the Chinese State Council to create convenient circumstance and provide more facilities to strengthen the cooperation and training for all the journalists, editors, translators, broadcasters and all the media men on mutual visit bases.
Sino-Arab relations have extended historically with important trade routes, and good diplomatic relations. The modern mutual ties are evolving into a new era with the Sino-Arab Cooperation Forum in 2004 which helped China and Arab nations to establish a new partnership based on peace and development.
From his side, Chinese Ambassador to Egypt Song Aiguo considered the "Chinese-Arab Media Dialogue Conference" as a great event for cooperation.
China and the Arab nations are attached by natural familiarity, Jiang added, citing President Xi's words "distances wouldn't prevent our friendship, miles wouldn't prevent our neighborhood."
He pointed out that Sino-Arab Cooperation Forum has added diversity and richness to the cooperation and exchange of information among the Arab-Chinese media.
Exchange of offices and branch stations for both the Sino-Arab media means is increasing, "there are six Chinese media institutions branches in Cairo, while Egypt's Ahram newspaper has applied for launching its office in China which reflects excellent trend for exchange among the Sino-Arab media channels," he added.
The Chinese ambassador added that the media tools are eyewitnesses and protectors for the Chinese-Arab friendship and deepening cooperation ties.
The conference, which is the first of its kind, was attended by representatives of 12 Chinese newspapers, news agencies, radio and others, while more than 30 representatives of Arab media institutions in addition to the Arab League who have contributed in the proceeding of the conference.
Ahmad Al-Nagar, chief-in-editor of Egypt official Ahram newspaper, said the mutual cooperation at the media level has witnessed fast and big developments.
He added Ahram has signed several agreements with Chinese news institutions in Egypt, noting Ahram is keen on exchanging visits and visions with Chinese media institution.
"We are in dire need for intensifying our efforts in combating terrorism," he added.
Meanwhile, Magdy Lasheen, chairman of the Egypt's State Television & Radio Union, said the cultural and media exchange between Egypt and China is one of the important part for deepening relations.
He reiterated the role of the media at the international level in the progressed digital technology and globalization.
"Art is the fastest means for delivering messages and uniting nations," he added.
He added that the country's state TV will display a Chinese series dubbed "Romantic of White Hair" subtitled in Arabic on Jan. 20, and send two Arabic series to China.
Adel Sabry, chief editor in "Arab Egypt" website, believes the Chinese media has seen technological and administrative growth that enabled them to exceed the national border to play an international role.
"Thanks to the Chinese government plan either by integrating some news institutions or even by enriching their independence, the Chinese media became powerful entities," he added.
Chairman of Egypt MENA news agency, Alaa Hayder, suggested establishing technological and information center which includes Asian, African, Arab news agencies, and university which includes media faculty as projects for cooperation.
The Arab League representative Nasimah Shareet has called for establishing Chinese-Arab electronic library on the internet to provide information in different fields.
She focused in her speech on adoption of work strategy project for supporting cooperation between both sides and enhancing mutual visits of media delegation, encouraging exchange of media content regularly, and organizing annual symposium to exchange expertise and to identify the production company.
