ZUBAIR QURESHI
With over 200 bureaus all over the world, more than 10,000 photographers and news service in 12 languages, China’s premiere Xinhua News Agency is all set to provide cutting-edge news services (photo, text, graphic, video etc) to Pakistani news agencies, print and electronic media in both Urdu and English.
A formal ceremony in this regard attended by representatives of both Pakistani and Chinese media took place here Thursday.
Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Information & Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, Ambassador of China Yao Jing also attended the introductory ceremony of ‘Xinhua-All-Media-Services’ participated by the news agency’s top officials and their Pakistani counterparts.
Bureau Chief Xinhua News Agency Islamabad, Liu Tian accompanied by General Manager of Xinhua News Agency Asia-Pacific Regional Bureau, Zhao Yue on the occasion gave away Xinhua News Agency service’s formal approval letters to various Pakistani newspapers and news agencies’ heads that can now use its service in their respective media outlets.
According to the contract signed between Chinese and Pakistani news media houses, Pakistani English and Urdu news agencies can use Xinhua news service in both languages and this cooperation would be extended by the Chinese service for free for first six months.
“It may be mentioned here that earlier Pakistan Observer has also signed an agreement with China’s prestigious news agency and the cooperation between the two news organizations has led to projection and promotion of Pak-China cooperation in various sectors including energy, industry, infrastructure and above all China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).”
While appreciating the landmark agreement between Chinese news agency and its Pakistani counterparts, Special Assistant to Prime Minister Imran Khan on Information & Broadcasting, Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said close coordination among Pakistani and Chinese media outlets was vital in defence of national and economic interests of both countries and defeat the negative propaganda against projects that are proving game changer for the entire region.
She also called upon the Pakistani media to portray positive image of Pakistan and strengthening the government’s endeavours in this regard.
She said anti-Pakistan narrative with regard to CPEC could be defeated only by active cooperation between the two countries’ media players.
Ambassador of China Yao Jing also welcomed cooperation between Xinhua News Agency and Pakistani media saying Pakistani media so far has projected and protected the mutual interests of Pakistan and China by defending China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) at all levels. There are however some isolated voices that under the influence of the western countries’ propaganda played a negative role, however, by and large Pakistani media performed its duties responsibly.
According to the ambassador, the year 2019 has remained very crucial with regard to projection of Pak-China relations and the year 2020 would see an increased and robust cooperation between the two countries’ media.
In 2019 work on Karakoram Highway expedited, Orange Line train completed and many other big and small projects were either completed or are being completed on fast track. He termed Prime Minister Imran Khan’s China visit of key importance that gave impetus to the cooperation between the two countries.
