China, Latin American countries hold forum to bolster media cooperation

Media leaders and academics gathered this week in Rio de Janeiro for the 2024 China–Latin America and Caribbean Media Cooperation Forum, seeking stronger connections between the two sides.

Under the theme "Mutual Learning, and Mutual Understanding," the forum, which lasts from this Tuesday to Friday, aims to highlight common ground between China and Latin America despite barriers such as distance, language and culture.

Chinese newspaper the People's Daily and Brazilian news organization Monitor Mercantil teamed up to co-organize this year's forum, marking the first collaboration between the two media organizations.

The meeting focused on the decade-long friendly cooperation between China and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), particularly in the media realm.

"In the past 10 years, we've focused on improving our structure and have produced a vast number of stories that showcase the vitality of both China and Latin America. Today, we are welcoming nearly a hundred media outlets and think tanks from both regions," said Hu Guo, vice president of the People's Daily, speaking on stage at the event.

Marcos de Oliveira, president of Monitor Mercantil, emphasized that as China becomes a leading trade partner for CELAC, the need for more direct communication is growing increasingly important.

"What happens in Latin America is that much of our news contact with China comes through Europe or the United States, which are partners with a strong Western bias. However, today the internet is making it easier for us to engage in a more fluid dialogue without any intermediaries," he said, speaking to a reporter.

This year's Silk Road Global News Awards were also announced at the event. Journalists were encouraged to submit their work in four categories: reporting, photography, video, and innovation.

Attendees said forums of this nature provide an opportunity to exchange experiences and ideas.

"For journalists it's very important. It's crucial for our social development, for our business development, for our cultural development and for better living of the future generations. China needs us, and we need China," said Malu Fernandes, a journalist with the Brazilian Press Association.

Many at the meeting said Chinese and Latin American media are not only injecting new energy into Sino-Latin relations but are helping facilitate understanding amid economic and geopolitical uncertainties.

China, Latin American countries hold forum to bolster media cooperation

China, Latin American countries hold forum to bolster media cooperation

China's Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao outlined the key priorities of the 32nd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting, which opened on Friday in Suzhou, East China's Jiangsu province.

In an interview with CGTN ahead of the two-day meeting, Wang said free trade, digital cooperation and green economy are high on the agenda of the meeting.

"The key areas include advancing regional economic integration and the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific, supporting the World Trade Organization (WTO) in strengthening digital cooperation and developing green economy. At present, the international situation is marked by intertwined turbulence and chaos, with intensified geopolitical instability. The rise of unilateralism and protectionism poses serious challenges to the international economic and trade order, disrupting global and Asia-Pacific development. Against this backdrop, all parties have higher expectations for this trade ministers' meeting, hoping that it can build consensus and deliver outcomes," Wang said.

This year marks China's third time hosting the APEC meetings and the 35th anniversary of its membership.

By 2025, China had become the largest trading partner of 13 APEC economies. Trade between China and APEC economies reached 3.7 trillion U.S. dollars, accounting for 57.8 percent of China's total foreign trade.

China has signed 24 free trade agreements or economic and trade arrangements with 31 countries and regions, including 15 APEC economies. In recent years, China has also completed upgrades of free trade agreements with APEC economies such as Singapore and Peru.

The minister said that China has always been a firm supporter and an important contributor to APEC.

"We have actively shared our vast market and development opportunities with all parties. China's door to the world will only open wider and wider. Facing the common challenges, China will continue to fulfill its responsibilities as a major country, further deepen reform, expand high-standard opening-up, and continue to provide new opportunities for the Asia-Pacific region and the world with its new achievements in Chinese modernization," the minister said.

China's Commerce Minister outlines priorities for 32nd APEC trade ministers' meeting