Korea Press Foundation and Xinhua News Agency Resume Korea-China Media Exchange
Exchange activities between Korean and Chinese journalists, which had been suspended due to COVID-19, have resumed after five years. The Korea Press Foundation and Xinhua News Agency conducted the Korea-China media exchange program last month in each country. Representing China, six journalists from Xinhua News Agency visited Korea in mid-last month, followed by a delegation of six Korean journalists visiting Beijing and Yancheng City in Jiangsu Province, China, later that same month.
Yuan Bingzhong, Vice President of Xinhua News Agency, met with the Korean Press Foundation delegation on the 24th of last month and said, "The mutual visits between the two organizations have actively contributed to promoting exchanges and cooperation in the media sectors of both countries and enhancing mutual understanding and friendship between the peoples of the two nations." He added, "As the first journalist delegation to visit China since the resumption of visits, this is evidence of friendly exchanges and close cooperation between Chinese and Korean media."
On the 24th of last month, a Korea-China journalists' meeting was held at Xinhua News Agency in Beijing, China. [Photo by Korea Press Foundation]
The delegations from both countries agreed on the importance of exchanges and cooperation in various fields, including media. Since establishing diplomatic relations in 1992, Korea-China relations have seen active human and material exchanges mainly in economic and industrial sectors. However, these exchanges have shrunk compared to the past due to the THAAD deployment-related ban (Hanhanryeong) around 2016 and border closures caused by COVID-19.
Recently, as China’s technological hegemony competition with the United States has intensified, the trend of ‘division’ on the international trade stage has also strengthened. Although political and diplomatic tensions between Korea and China have increased, media circles in both countries agreed that active exchanges at the civilian level are necessary to alleviate such tensions.
Vice President Yuan stated, "China and Korea are inseparable neighbors and indispensable partners with many common interests." He added, "Over the 30 years since establishing diplomatic relations, the relationship has rapidly developed, achieving results in economic and trade cooperation that have provided tangible benefits to the peoples of both countries." Kim Gapjung, a journalist who participated as the head of the Korean delegation, suggested that the two governments should consider gradually expanding visa exemption agreements to activate civilian exchanges between the two countries.
On the 24th of last month, a Korea-China journalists' meeting was held at Xinhua News Agency in Beijing, China. Yuan Bingzhong, Vice President of Xinhua News Agency, local journalists, and the delegation from the Korea Press Foundation are taking a commemorative photo. [Photo by Xinhua News Agency]
The journalists from both countries also agreed on the importance of the media’s role in revitalizing civilian exchanges. They discussed increasing points of contact between media organizations to jointly cover common interests and exploring ways to utilize artificial intelligence (AI) technology, which has become increasingly useful in the media industry. Li Xiahui, a reporter from China Economic Herald, said, "I want to let Korea know the real China," and requested, "Please actively participate on the Korean side in the Belt and Road information-sharing network, which involves 37 countries and 61 institutions."
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