Philippine News Agency reporter Jelly Musico delivers speech during joint CAPC, CSASEAPC closing ceremony

Forty-two foreign journalists have rendered a medley Chinese songs while waiving their respective national flags to formally end a 10-month China development study and media exchange program organized by China Public Diplomacy Association (CPDA).

CPDA vice president Hu Zhengyue has lauded the journalists from Africa and Asia for their valuable contribution in enhancing the understanding and friendship between China and their respective countries.

“I want to express my heart-felt thanks to all of you,” Hu said in his speech during recent joint closing ceremony attended by some members of diplomatic corps, Chinese media, academics and think-tanks in Beijing.

Hu has called on 42 journalists to give attention on China as it aspire for a moderately prosperous society in 2022 and modern socialist society in 2049 by pushing the Belt and Road Initiative.

“We hope you will continue to pay attention to China in the future, continue to pay attention to bilateral contacts and continue to pay attention to the regional cooperation, especially the process of building the Belt and Road,” he said.

CPDA vice president Hu Zhengyue lauds 42 journalists from Africa and Asia for helping in promotion of China's diplomacy.

Established in 2012, CPDA is nationwide, non-profit organization aimed at mobilizing social resources and making the best use of people-to-people international exchanges to enhance mutual understanding and friendship between China and the rest of the world.

CPDA has actually formed three press centers this year but unlike China-Africa Press Center (CAPC) and China-South Asia and Southeast Asia Press Center (CSASEAPC), China-Latin America Press Center (CLAPC) stayed only from May to September.

It was a fruitful and experience-enriching 10-month journey that brought 27 CAPC and 15 CSASEAPC journalists to different Chinese provinces and major cities like Shanghai, Tianjin and Beijing.

The journalists had covered big local and international events like the once-in-five years 19th National Congress of Communist Party of China and the first Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation attended by 29 government leaders and heads of state.

They also covered ‘lianghui’ or annual two sessions -- 12th National People’s Congress (NPC) and 12th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the country’s legislature and top political advisory body, respectively.

The two press centers along with 11 CLAPC journalists also went to Xiamen City last September for the 9th BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China & South Africa) Summit.

China also brought journalists to Hainan to cover Boao Forum for Asia in March and Belt and Media Cooperation Forum on Belt and Road held in Dunhuang, Gansu in September.

Renmin University of China had provided series of lectures on Chinese politics, economy, poverty alleviation, media, social, culture and its emerging role in global governance.

Beijing International Chinese College, on the other hand, taught them basic Chinese language and better understanding of Chinese diversified and rich cultures.

Journalists commended China for giving them opportunity to explore different beautiful places including famous tourist spots like the magnificent Yangtze river and three UNESCO-enshrined Mogao, Longmen and Yungang grottoes.

42 African and Asian journalists pose for photo opp after receiving certificates from BICC.

“It is difficult to summarize the stories from all the tours,” Raza Muhammad, reporter of Pakistan’s Dawn News, said.

Narendra Apurva Vaidyanathapura of India Express said he felt 10 months are not enough to fully experience and understand China particularly its people and culture.

“These 10 months have also helped me learn a lot about other countries in the region from Laos, Thailand and the Philippines to Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka,” Vaidyanathapura said.

Others praised China for lifting over 700 million of its people out of poverty and its miracle rise as world’s second largest economy in a span of only three decades. 

The cross-mountain and underwater tunnels, subways, massive road networks, airports, high speed trains, skyscrapers and bridges are proofs of China’s rapid development.

Muhammad Zamir Assadi of Independence News Pakistan described Belt and Road Initiative a game changer that will benefit 4.4 billion people in Asia, Europe, Africa and Latin America.

Jay Prakash Pandey of India’s Amar Ujala said he enjoyed so much Chinese cuisine especially Sichuan hot-pot while Aminath Ibrahim of Maldives’ Avas Online said coming to China was a dream come true.

Zaw Ye Aung of Myanmar’s TV Skynet and Latsaphao Khonesavanh of Vientiane Times thanked China for great opportunities to be part of the CPDA media exchange program that gave journalists opportunities to build ties with their Chinese counterparts.

Kimeng Hilton Nadukong of Cameroon Tribune delivered closing ceremony speech on behalf of CPAC while Jelly Musico of Philippine News Agency represented CSASEAPC. 

Both journalists urged colleagues to write stories that will enhance mutual understanding and develop stronger cooperation among countries along Belt and Road.

(Jelly Musico, news reporter of Philippine News Agency and member of China South Asia, Southeast Asia Press Center)