Asia-Pacific
Better media links help China, India
By Hu Haiyan and Ai Yang (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-03-31 07:48
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BEIJING - Strengthened media cooperation between India and China will help improve understanding and promote more beneficial bilateral ties between the two countries, officials from both sides proposed on Tuesday.
"China and India are enjoying a relationship which is deepening and broadening," S. Jaishankar, the Indian ambassador to China, said at the 2010 India-China Development Forum in Beijing. Jaishankar noted in his speech that both nations had witnessed some controversial and negative media coverage about each other last year, but said it was "no use blaming each other".
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"Our media coverage will be more positive if we promote our relationship, and of course, a more efficient interpretation and dialogue is needed for such progress." Wang Chen, minister of the State Council Information Office, also noted the importance of the media, as direct communication between the two peoples was limited.
"China and India together account for almost half of the world's populationmore intensified media coverage by both countries about our progress and efforts is much needed," he said. Wang proposed that both countries report in a more positive and all-round manner, as well as cover mutual achievements.
"We hope the media will become the window of understanding for both sides," Wang said.
"Although both Chinese and Indian media have made great strides in recent years, the Western media still had the upper hand. China and India get to know each other through Western media outlets such as CNN and BBC, which somehow lead to misunderstanding. The media cooperation should be enhanced between the two countries." A media cooperation committee was also proposed during the forum.
Zeng Jianhua, executive director of the Department of Asian, African and Latin American Affairs at the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs said such a panel would help China and India put aside differences due to their different political and cultural backgrounds, and seek a common ground for mutual development.
