China using the media to reach out to the world (Wednesday, April 11, 2012)

Story: George Ernest Asare & Benjamin Glover, Beijing, China. Courtesy the China Ministry of Commence. As part of her open door policies of having free flow of information with the international community, the Chinese Government has trained over 236,000 journalists and equipped them with the requisite logistics that will enhance their reportage. According to the Division Chief of the Department of Press Newspapers and Magazines Newspaper Services of the General Administration of the Press and Publication, (GAPP), of the Peoples Republic of China, Mr. Nong Tao, China has dispatched journalists to 193 other countries for them to report on issues that will promote fruitful partnership between China and all her allies. Addressing 37 journalists and information officers from selected countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East, on the operations of the press and newspaper publications in China, Mr. Tao pointed out that China has put premium on the professionalism of journalists trained in China. He said since the government puts premium on quality, all journalists trained in China have education which is above university level. “Since professionalism of journalists is considered as important to the government, the content and context of articles, published in China are beyond reproach”, he said. The address formed part of a seminar organised by the State Council Information Office of China, (SCIO), to expose the participants to the initiatives of the Chinese government in relation to promoting media freedom in China. So far, the participants have visited the China Internet Information Centre, the offices of China.org.cn, Xinhua News Agency, General Administration of Press and Publication and the China International Publishing Group, where they had fruitful interaction with the heads of departments and media practitioners. They have also visited the Forbidden City in China, which is considered to be one of the famous tourist attractions in the world, where 24 Emperors of the Ming and Quin dynasties used as their seats to ruled China between 1420 and 1911. Mr. Tao said as part of reforms of promoting media pluralism and reforms in China, the government has restructured publishing houses and newspaper management. He said they have also put value of articles that are published in China, saying, “articles will be published depending on the values and ethics of the publishing houses as well as the philosophies of the state”. Mr Tao also noted that, articles that will undermine national security destabilised the state or corrupt the system will not be published. For his part, the Deputy Director General of the Department of Foreign Exchange and Cooperation of the GAPP explained that the reforms being carried out by China in all sectors of the society, including the media were to promote meaningful development in China. He said they have always been motivating journalists both within and outside China to interact with the international community not only to promote the interest of China, but also to tap the expertise of their partners. He said notwithstanding the level of development in China, they are still learning, and are therefore eager to learn from the international community on issues that will accelerate the development of China. He however noted that China will not compromise on issues that will undermine the values and practices to corrupt the system and affect their development. He said like the international community, the media in China do not enjoy absolute freedom, and therefore urged the participants to appreciate the core values of China, so that when they return to their various countries they will be in the position to share their experiences about China with those who have little knowledge about the country. -End-