CMG holds seminar for major cultural program in Beijing

A creative seminar for China Media Group's (CMG) large-scale cultural program "Exploring China through Bamboo and Wooden Slips" was held in Beijing on Thursday.

Shen Haixiong, deputy head of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and president of CMG, attended the event and delivered a speech.

During the seminar, participants, including experts, scholars, media representatives, and the program's creative team, discussed the program's creative concept, innovative practices, and social significance, offering insights and suggestions to advance the creative transformation and innovative development of China's traditional culture.

According to the participants, the driving force behind the creation of the program stems from Chinese civilization. CMG spearheaded the use of bamboo and wooden slips as a focal point, delving into the culture reflected in these ancient documents, extracting their historical value and profound meanings, thereby pioneering a fresh approach to narrating the history of Chinese civilization through a cultural program.

By using visual storytelling, the program seeks to illuminate the richness and depth of ancient Chinese culture, bridging the past and present while imparting the wisdom and heritage encapsulated in these ancient documents to modern audiences.

"Making research results accessible to the general public is a challenge. I believe 'Exploring China through Bamboo and Wooden Slips' has tackled this challenge. The program vividly presents that historical period through expert interpretations, reconstructed excavation scenes, the use of digital technology, and dialogs bridging ancient and modern times," said Liu Guoxiang, vice president of the Chinese Academy of History.

"(The program) translated the contents, plots, backgrounds, and cultural attributes of bamboo and wooden slips, which are difficult for people to read and understand, into dramatic narratives, evoking emotional resonance and fostering understanding and recognition, thereby making the ancient documents relevant and esteemed," said Meng Man, a professor at the School of History and Culture, Minzu University of China.

The program integrates innovative forms of expression, including on-site visits, live dramas, and cultural interviews, to showcase the discoveries of eight representative bamboo and wooden slips. Through these findings, it reveals the multiple values of cultural relics, illustrating the profound and extensive essence of Chinese civilization.

Since airing on CMG's TV channels such as CCTV-1, as well as on CMG's official website and new media platforms, the program has attracted significant attention and praise from all walks of life.

The premiere and subsequent re-broadcast of the 11 episodes on television have collectively reached an audience of 727 million viewers, with video views exceeding 110 million and 401 topics trending on social media's hot searches and lists.

CMG holds seminar for major cultural program in Beijing

Long-standing challenges in Mexico's automotive industry have been exacerbated with the implementation of the U.S. tariff on imported cars, which took effect Thursday, fueling uncertainty and job losses.

Last month, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a 25 percent tariff on all imported automobiles.

Ciudad Juarez, one of Mexico's largest trade ports and a key manufacturing hub, is now facing even greater challenges as rising trade protectionism deepens existing pressures.

At a medal parts manufacturing factory that has been in operation for over 30 years, the workforce has drastically reduced from 60 workers to just 25 due to uncertainty about the future.

Even before the U.S. tariffs on imported cars took effect, mounting pressure had already begun to ripple through the industry, prompting many companies to suspend investment and procurement plans.

"Some 95 percent of the products exported from Chihuahua, where Ciudad Juarez is located, are industrial manufactured goods. We have held multiple meetings to discuss solutions. In fact, over the past year and a half, more than 55,000 factory workers here in the city have lost their jobs," said the owner of the factory.

The automotive industry is a key pillar of Mexico's economy, generating nearly 100 billion U.S. dollars in output. The auto parts assembly industry alone provides over 900,000 jobs for the country, while automotive assembly companies create 175,000 jobs.

According to statistics from the Mexican Association of Automotive Dealers (AMDA), over 40 percent of the components used by American auto manufacturers are imported from Mexico. Last year, Mexico produced four million cars, approximately three million of which were exported to the U.S.

Industry insiders indicate that due to the high degree of interdependence in the sector between the U.S. and Mexico, along with a shortage of skilled labor, the U.S. goal of bringing automotive manufacturing back to its shores through tariffs is unlikely to be realized in the short term.

Moreover, the established industrial chain in Mexico faces the risk of being disrupted, which will ultimately have repercussions on consumer spending and further exacerbate inflation in the long run.

"Young people from the U.S. are no longer willing to work in the manufacturing sector. I believe there will be no growth in the relocation of automotive parts and vehicles factories in the short term," said Guillermo Rosales Zarate, ADMA's executive president.

"Personally, I hope this avalanche of tariffs doesn't continue; otherwise, it will lead to more significant issues affecting the U.S. economy. If these tariffs remain in place long-term, it will be the American people who suffer the most," said Ricardo Ramos, a professor with the Autonomous University of Ciudad Juarez.

U.S. automotive tariffs deepen industry pressures, halt investments in Mexico