Twenty-six leaders and experts of media organisations from across the world including Samoa gathered in the People’s Republic of China from the 20 to 29 April 2025 to experience ‘the real China’.
The seminar enhanced understanding and friendship between China and the participating countries as well as deepened exchanges and cooperation in the media sector.
It was organised by the International Department of the Communist Party of China’s Central Committee with the opportunity exposing China for what it really is – a country rich in natural beauty, history, culture, and traditions.
Participants soon realised that the China often exposed on international news media, and books cannot be understood until physically experienced.
The People’s Republic of China is a country in East Asia with a population exceeding 1.4 billion according to 2023 data from the World Bank and is also the second-most populated country after India, representing 17.4 percent (%) of the world population.
China is also one of the oldest continuous civilizations in the world spanning a history of 5,000 years.
BEING EXPOSED TO CHINA
The event titled; Seminar for Leaders of Media Organizations falls under the theme “Global Opportunities in China’s High Level Opening-up” which introduced the promotion of high-quality development and advances Chinese modernisation highlighting key achievements and global opportunities.
The visiting group were hosted to a series of discussions on new trends and challenges faced by the media in the era of artificial intelligence, field excursions to various monumental, historical, cultural sites as well as visits to the SERES Super Factory, the Taiyuan Heavy Machinery Group Co. Ltd, universities, and television, radio, newspaper outlets as well as communication organisations, institutions and enterprises.
Participants for 10 days were also invited to make recommendations and feedback on the communications and media advancements in China, and on the various sites included in their visits.
From the various meetings, tours and travel to these different places the media soon realised that China was more than a country working on building prosperity and good living, and advanced technology and science such as the use of Artificial Intelligence (A.I.).
It is a country rich in respect, resilience, beauty, magnificent landscapes, friendly people, delicious cuisine, and much more.
Their pursuit for continuous growth and the well-being of their people and the elderly, the senior citizens supporting the youth and vice-versa, design and production of state-of-the-art technology, science advancements, and agricultural progress, the resilience of its people and pursuit of peace and safeguarding the natural environment could be a learning opportunity for many other economies across the globe.
The programme introduced the media to the real China as they visited different cities, provinces, communities from Chongqing, to Shanxi to Beijing, experienced the Chinese cuisine, hotels, wine, rich culture, heritage and history, and being exposed to the new technological advancements of communications utilised in media outlets in these places and meeting with the locals.
The programme started in Chongqing with a meeting with Jianghui, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Chongqing Municipal Committee and the Head of the Publicity Department, before the group travelled in buses, trains and airports to get to other destinations.
The group attended the Economic and Trade Promotion Event in the hotel, travelling on the Straddle Monorail on the Zengjiayan metro station.
This article was originally published by Savali Newspaper on its FB page and has been republished with permission.
