Chinese TV shows find new growth avenues in Arabian nations

Soldiers of PLA march in formation past the Tian'anmen Square before a military parade to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of World War Two in Beijing. [Photo/Agencies]

Television programs from China are increasingly finding an audience in Arab nations, with a growing number keen to source original content, officials said on Wednesday.

Interest in original content programs like China's V-Day parade on Sept 3 was particularly high among viewers in countries in Tunisia and Egypt as they were able to witness the event live on their television sets, thanks to the signals aired by the Beijing-based CCTV News Content Co Ltd.

According to officials, interest in China-centered programs has peaked after the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping two years ago. The trade initiative runs through most of the Arab nations that were once part of the historic Silk Route and seeks to foster better relations and infrastructure connectivity among countries.

Speaking at the China-Arabian countries broadcasting and TV cooperation forum held in Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui autonomous region on Wednesday, Tong Gang, deputy director of the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television, said that many TV stations in China have established cooperation mechanisms with their Arabian counterparts.

"The administration has signed cooperation agreements with 10 Arab nations, including Egypt, Kuwait, Syria, Saudi Arabia and Iraq," he said.

"China and Arab nations will further strengthen their cooperation in news broadcasting, program exchanges, joint productions and dubbing TV programs. We may even consider producing original television content jointly."

The TV cooperation forum is one of a series of activities under the 2015 China Arab States Expo, which kicked off on Thursday in Yinchuan. More than 80 ministry-level officials from 86 countries and regions and international organizations took part in the expo.

President Xi Jinping said in his letter of congratulations to the expo that "China and Arab countries are friends that trust each other, and good partners".