China Global Television Network (CGTN) and the Publicity Department of the Wuhan Municipal Party Committee launched the 2025 "China Walk" media tour for domestic and overseas media in Wuhan on Wednesday.
Diplomats from many countries, including the ambassadors of Vietnam and Nepal to China, as well as over 20 journalists from Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, Laos, Türkiye and other countries attended Wednesday's launch event.
Over the next week, the Chinese and foreign teams will produce a series of programs focusing on the development of Wuhan, including its science and technology innovation, ecology, culture and tourism, as well as transportation, which will be broadcast on CGTN and overseas media in order to deepen the international community's understanding of Chinese modernization.
"I think when it comes to media and storytelling, one of the most important things is access. If you don't have access, you can't tell a very good story. Right now with us being here in Wuhan, we have the access. Perhaps that is the first, most important step," said Alican Ayanlar, a presenter and correspondent for Türkiye's TRT World.
"With the inauguration of 'China Walk', it has become yet another opportunity for us to work together in the future, particularly with the city of Wuhan, because up to this day, this is only the beginning of our journey here in Wuhan, but we have discovered so many things, so many aspects," said Rahmat Hidayat, a journalist with Indonesia's TVRI.
"China Walk" media tour launched in Wuhan
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said on Monday that the situation in Iran is "under total control" following violence linked to protests that spiked over the weekend.
Addressing foreign diplomats in Tehran, the foreign minister noted that armed terrorist groups had infiltrated the protests, attempting to divert them from their legitimate course. He claimed that evidence has been gathered showing Iranian security forces being shot at, with the aim of causing further casualties. He accused the United States and Israel of exploiting the unrest to interfere in Iran's internal affairs.
Araghchi further stated that the government is closely monitoring developments on the streets, emphasizing that "the situation has come under control." He also affirmed that internet services, curtailed during the unrest, would be restored after coordination with security agencies.
The government has engaged in dialogue with merchants and protest representatives and initiated reforms to address grievances related to price hikes and currency depreciation. Iran has taken a series of actions and measures to respond to the demands of peaceful demonstrators, the foreign minister said.
Earlier on Sunday, Araghchi said that clear evidence links recent riots and vandalism of public facilities in Iran to the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad. This came after former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo mentioned Mossad agents operating on Iran's streets in a social media post. The Iranian foreign minister asserted that police are being attacked by "terrorists" acting under the direction of Israeli operatives, whom Pompeo publicly acknowledged.
The protests initially erupted over a sharp depreciation of the rial and sweeping subsidy reforms. Iranian authorities have blamed the unrest on foreign-linked agents and U.S. sanctions.
Iranian foreign minister says situation "fully under control," accuses Israeli intelligence of stoking unrest
