POSITIVE ENERGY THROUGH MEDIA COOPERATION

By Wang Fengjuan

Exclusive interview with Secretary General of ASEAN-China Center Yang Xiuping

Ms. Yang Xiuping, Secretary General of the ASEAN-China Center, at a joint interview with Chinese and ASEAN media organizations.

As China and ASEAN celebrate the 15th anniversary of their strategic partnership and the China-ASEAN Year of Innovation this year, the First ASEAN-China Media Cooperation Forum, cosponsored by ASEANChina Center (CAA), China International Publishing Group(CIPG) and the Information Office of the Jiangsu Provincial People’s Government, was held in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, from May 11 to 13. After the forum concluded, Ms. Yang Xiuping,Secretary General of the ACC,sat down for an interview with Chinese and ASEAN media organizations.

>>China Report ASEAN: How do you think this forum went, and what are your expectations for the next meeting?

Secretary General Yang: Under the theme “Innovate Media Cooperation for a Shared Future,” the forum was intended to build a new platform for media exchange and cooperation between China and ASEAN. I was glad to see media representatives from both sides share their views through this platform while advising future cooperation. The success of the forum should be attributed to generous support from CIPG,the Information Office and Foreign Affairs Office of Jiangsu Provincial People’s Government,Wuxi Municipal People’s Government and HOdo Group. I also appreciate the participation of the ASEAN Secretariat, ASEAN countries’ embassies in China and media organizations from both sides, especially the great efforts made by China Report Press over the past few years to promote China-ASEAN media cooperation.

The first step is always the hardest. The First ASEAN-China Media Cooperation Forum has plenty of room for improvement. We welcome suggestions and advice from all walks of life as reference for the next edition.

>>China Report ASEAN: This year marks the 15th anniversary of the China-ASEAN Strategic Partnership, and both sides have entered a decisive period of development. Do you have any suggestions for strengthening bilateral cooperation?

Secretary General Yang: As an old Chinese saying goes,“A nearby neighbor is better than a far-off relative.” China’s Yunnan Province shares 4,000 kilometers of frontier with three ASEAN countries. While facing a few other ASEAN countries across the sea, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region borders Vietnam, with cross-border trade flourishing in its Dongxing Port. I once visited Dongxing around 5 a.m., by which time there were already long lines of residents on both sides waiting for the opening of the border gate.

A week ago, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang paid an official visit to Indonesia and reached consensus with Indonesian leaders on comprehensively deepening strategic bilateral partnership.On the sidelines of his visit, the premier attended the launch ceremony for celebrations marking the 15th anniversary of the strategic partnership between China and ASEAN and delivered a keynote speech at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta.He hailed the positive progress in ASEAN community building,remarking that the importance of cooperation between China and the ASEAN has transcended the bilateral scope. He also stressed that China is ready to work with ASEAN countries to build a closer community with a shared future and that China is willing to partner with ASEAN in joint peace-building, opening up and win-win results, exploration and innovation, and inclusiveness and mutual learning.

>>China Report ASEAN: What positive role do you think the media can play in boosting China-ASEAN relations, and what are your suggestions for media cooperation?

Secretary General Yang: I am particularly enthusiastic about journalism and communication. My first job after graduation was in the Information Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Media organizations can serve as a bridge between peoples and cultures. In recent years, the continuously deepening China-ASEAN media cooperation has played a central role in enriching the connotations of the bilateral strategic partnership.

Since its founding in 2011, ACC has remained committed to implementing major consensus reached by leaders on both sides.

When it comes to deepening media cooperation, I have three major suggestions: The first is to spread positive energy for friendly cooperation. Both sides should grasp the new trends of bilateral relations and continue to report on each side’s economic and social development in an objective and fair way while disseminating information on friendly cooperation. My second suggestion is to establish a mechanism for long-term cooperation. Based on this forum,both sides can explore ways to institutionalize the platform and build stable and smoother channels to constantly improve levels of exchange and cooperation. Another suggestion is to expand cooperation through new technologies. Both sides should seize opportunities brought by the China-ASEAN Year of Innovation to promote the application of new media technologies to sustain bilateral cooperation and bring benefits to their combined population of 2 billion people.

>>China Report ASEAN:The ACC has done much in promoting media exchange and cooperation. Could you please elaborate on the work it has done?

Secretary General Yang: ACC is an inter-governmental organization established by the governments of ASEAN countries and China. Since its founding in 2011, ACC has remained committed to implementing major consensus reached by leaders on both sides and promoting friendly exchange and pragmatic cooperation in areas of trade,investment, education, culture,tourism and media. By the end of 2017, we had launched more than 120 flagship projects and organized or participated in more than 600 related activities.

By the end of 2017, we had launched more than 120 flagship projects and organized or participated in more than 600 related activities.

We have organized more than 20 journalist tours for Chinese media outlets to 14 cities in six ASEAN countries.

Journalists from nearly 60 media organizations in 10 ASEAN member states have benefited from this project.

At the Foreign Ministers’Meeting between China and ASEAN (10+1) held in Manila,Philippines on August 6, 2017,foreign ministers of the 11 countries signed the amended version of the Memorandum of Understanding on Establishing China-ASEAN Center, in which media cooperation was officially included as a task, providing guidance for ACC’s future efforts in expanding media cooperation.

Over the past three years,thanks to a regular cooperation mechanism we established with both Chinese and ASEAN media organizations, we have organized more than 20 journalist tours for Chinese media outlets to 14 cities in six ASEAN countries. Meanwhile, in collaboration with China’s State Council Information Office, CIPG and China Report Press, we have launched the annual China-ASEAN Media Journey on the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road,inviting journalists from ASEAN countries to gain deeper insight into China’s economic growth and social progress. This year’s Media Journey happened before this forum and enabled ASEAN journalists to visit Shanghai,Zhejiang and Jiangsu. So far,journalists from nearly 60 media organizations in 10 ASEAN member states have benefited from this project.

In the future, the ACC will continue serving as a bridge between media communities on both sides and make greater contributions to deepening the China-ASEAN Strategic Partnership and building a closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future. I hope that even more Chinese and ASEAN media workers will join us in promoting bilateral cooperation and contributing to the well-being of all citizens in the region as well as regional development and prosperity.