A cross-Strait media summit was held in Beijing on Thursday, drawing over 110 media chiefs, scholars and representatives from the mainland and the Taiwan region to explore the integrated development of cross-Strait media amid new changes.
The summit, in its fifth edition, featured a main forum and several sub-forums, in which participants engaged in in-depth discussions on topics such as strengthening cross-Strait media cooperation and exchanges, and how mainstream media can uphold core values in the era of artificial intelligence.
Addressing the main forum, Song Tao, head of both the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, pledged to continue promoting cultural exchange and cooperation across the Taiwan Strait, including media exchanges, by enhancing policy support and strengthening institutional safeguards.
Chou Hsi-wei, vice chairman of Want Want China, a Taiwan-based enterprise, said that the two sides of the Strait belong to the same family, calling on media professionals from across the Strait to objectively report the facts about the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
On Thursday afternoon, Song met with representatives of Taiwan media outlets attending the summit. He expressed the hope that media outlets on both sides of the Strait will actively participate in and promote cross-Strait cultural exchanges, adhere to objective reporting and fair comment, promote integrated development, and contribute to the reunification of the motherland. The representatives from Taiwan, including Tsai Eng-meng, chairman of the Want Want China Times Media Group, agreed that cross-Strait media outlets serve as a bridge for communication and friendship between the compatriots on both sides of the Strait.
They said that during the downturn of cross-Strait relations, it is essential to expand exchanges and cooperation, and enhance the emotional bond and mutual trust between the people on both sides of the Strait, to gradually steer the future development of cross-Strait relations onto the right track.
"In Taiwan region, our aim is to report truthfully, informing our compatriots in Taiwan about the current situation on the mainland, which can help dispel many unnecessary misunderstandings and misconceptions. Through enhanced communication and understanding, the media can effectively play this role," said Huang Shu-te, president of China Times.
Chou Hsi-wei called on the media on both sides of the Strait to share cross-strait development for mutual understanding and benefit.
"Media professionals on both sides of the Taiwan Strait should take responsibility for sharing information about cross-strait development, particularly the progress that the mainland has made in recent years in science and technology, manufacturing, trade, and defense, so that people on both sides can share in this progress," said Chou.
Cross-Strait media representatives explore integrated development in Beijing
China is willing to strengthen exchanges at various levels and enhance mutually beneficial cooperation with Austria, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Friday.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks while meeting with Austrian Federal Minister for European and International Affairs Beate Meinl-Reisinger on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.
The world is changing rapidly and should be getting better, not worse, said Wang, noting that it is now the time for countries to strengthen solidarity and cooperation, to jointly safeguard the authority of the United Nations, and to practice genuine multilateralism.
Urging all countries to work together to build a community with a shared future for humanity, Wang also voiced China's support for Europe in pursuing a path of strategic autonomy and contributing to building a safer, more harmonious and fairer world. Austria, as a European country with unique advantages, is believed to make new contributions in this regard, he said.
As a responsible major country, China will stay committed to serving as a stabilizing anchor for world peace and a major engine for global development, said Wang.
This year marks the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Austria. Both sides should review historical experiences, uphold the friendly strategic partnership and continuously deepen bilateral relations on the basis of equality and mutual respect, Wang said.
China welcomes Austrian enterprises to seize cooperation opportunities in areas such as the digital economy and future industries and create new highlights in cooperation, and hopes Austria will provide a fair, just and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese enterprises, Wang added.
China supports strengthened exchanges between cultural institutions and art groups of both countries to better promote mutual understanding, and Austrian citizens are welcome to make good use of the visa-free policy to visit and learn about China, Wang said. For her part, Meinl-Reisinger said that Austria attaches great importance to its relations with China and firmly adheres to the one-China policy and that bilateral cooperation in various fields has yielded positive results based on equality and mutual benefit.
Austria is willing to take the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations as an opportunity to strengthen exchanges at all levels with China, expand economic and trade cooperation, enhance cultural exchanges and elevate the Austria-China friendly strategic partnership to a higher level, she said.
The world today needs more cooperation and peace, not chaos and war, she said, noting that Austria is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with China in multilateral institutions such as the United Nations within the framework of multilateralism.
The two sides also exchanged views on issues of common concern, including the Ukraine crisis.
China willing to strengthen cooperation with Austria: FM
