Beijing, - The Syrian Ministry of Information signed a memo of understanding with the China Central Television (CCTV) on information cooperation through mass media, academic and technical exchange.
"Syrian-Chinese relations have witnessed development in all domains especially after the historic visit of President Bashar al-Assad in 2004." Syrian Information Minister Dr. Mohsen Bilal said during a meeting with Deputy Director General of the CCTV Mr. Chang Meng.
Dr. Bilal pointed out that Syria was ready for media cooperation with China due to the key role of media in presenting the real image of the Syrian and Chinese peoples and their cultural heritage in addition to its role in conveying our just causes in a clear and accurate way, and in confronting the West's media distortion of our country's reality.
Minister Bilal said during a TV interview with CCTV Arabic that the Arabic speaking Chinese channel was a bridge and an additional forum for developing Arab-Chinese relations.
For his part Chang noted that China witnessed openness in all fields including media where the Arabic-speaking Chinese channel produced suitable programs in cooperation with Arab media and particularly the Syrian.
Information Minister Bilal later discussed with Head of the Publicity Department at the Chinese Communist party Hun Yong ways of enhancing and developing Syrian-Chinese Media cooperation.
During the meeting held in the province of Shaanxi, Yong hailed Syria's stances and role, saying that "Syria is a school for every resistant and journalist."
He briefed Minister Bilal on the situation of the province which has an important transportation network due to its important geographic site in the center of China and the natural resources it enjoys including oil, natural gas and coal.
The Chinese Party official said that the Province of Shaanxi has mass media that can cover all the geographic expansion of china in addition to the external world, indicating that more than 356 journals, newspapers and magazines were published this year.
For his part, Information Minister stressed the necessity of activating and enhancing the mutual media cooperation between Syria and China through exchanging experiences and human cadres.
The Minister added that "we have to work as a team and partners to provide ourselves with the right media message in response to some media attacks through the western media."
Bilal expressed happiness to visit the Chinese city of Xian that links the past with the present as a historic capital of China and the developed present through what he saw in the Academy of science and the international and modern technology.
Information Minister and the accompanying delegation will visit Shanghai tomorrow morning.
By Rasha Milhem / Kh. Aridi / Ismael Al Kazhali /Mazen Eyon
© SANA (Syria Arab News Agency) 2009
