In a move aimed at enhancing global communication and cooperation with ASEAN, the Guangxi International Communication Centre was inaugurated on September 6 in Nanning. This initiative is under the leadership of the Publicity Department of the Party Committee of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and is spearheaded by Guangxi Daily in collaboration with Guangxi Radio and Television.
Chen Yijun, a member of the Standing Committee of the Party Committee of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, along with other key figures including Liu Weiling, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of China Daily, and Yu Yunquan, Deputy Director of China Foreign Languages Administration, were present. Delegates from ASEAN nations, as well as leaders from media houses in Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Hong Kong, and Macao, also attended the event.
Guangxi serves as a critical gateway for China’s outreach to ASEAN countries, leveraging its geographic proximity and cultural ties to strengthen mutual exchanges. Over recent years, Guangxi has built a reputation for its active role in fostering media collaborations with ASEAN countries, sharing stories of friendship, and facilitating people-to-people and cultural connections between China and its neighbors.
Liu Weiling highlighted China Daily’s collaboration with Guangxi to establish a comprehensive, diversified cooperation model. This model seeks to highlight Guangxi’s strategic significance in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area while also showcasing the region’s role in building a China-ASEAN community of shared destiny and a China-Vietnam strategic community.
Yu Yunquan emphasized that Guangxi’s geographical advantages and cultural richness make it uniquely positioned for international communication. He stressed that Guangxi’s role would be instrumental in deepening international cooperation and enhancing mutual understanding, as the region continues to develop its international communication infrastructure.
Zhang Lei from China News Service spoke about the partnership between his organization and Guangxi to amplify the region’s achievements in economic and social development. The goal is to present Guangxi to the international community through accurate and engaging stories that reflect its progress and ambitions in high-quality development.
Akha Ongmenca, Director of Lao National Television, praised the long-standing partnership between Laos and Guangxi in the media sector. He expressed optimism about continuing this cooperation, focusing on innovation and achieving even greater results in the future.
Xu Bo, President of Guangxi Daily, outlined the efforts to establish a multi-dimensional communication platform through “Hello Guangxi,” which includes a website, client channel, and social media accounts. The aim is to create a unified and effective communication network that promotes Guangxi’s image internationally while telling China’s stories from a localized perspective.
At the event, several strategic agreements were signed, including one between the Publicity Department of Guangxi and China Daily and China News Service. These agreements, alongside new collaborations with foreign media, aim to expand Guangxi’s influence on the global stage.
Among the initiatives announced were plans for the 2024 Chinese and Foreign Media Tour, aimed at promoting the Land and Sea New Corridor in the West, a key part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative. This project is seen as critical to the development of China’s southwest region. Additionally, cultural exchange activities like “Meeting Lovely China and Magnificent Guangxi” will further promote mutual learning and cultural ties between China and ASEAN.
The launch of the Guangxi International Communication Centre marks a significant step in promoting China-ASEAN cooperation through media and cultural diplomacy, with a focus on fostering mutual understanding and deepening regional ties.