Media to help better understanding between China and Myanmar

Yangon, Oct. 26 (People’s Daily Online) On October 24, a media delegation composed of journalists from eight Chinese media outlets led by Chen Dehai, Secretary-General of the ASEAN-China Center (ACC), visited one of Myanmar’s largest media outlets, Mizzima, under the schedule of ACC’s media exchange program with Brunei and Myanmar.

Soe Myint exchanges ideas with ACC media delegation (People's Daily Online/He Zhuoyan)

Thoughts about the development of the media industry, as well as the media’s role in covering China-Myanmar relations, were exchanged during the visit.

“As we all know, we refer to the China-Myanmar relationship as the “Pauk-phaw friendship, ” said Chen at the beginning of the meeting, “as we are about to celebrate the 70th anniversary of China-Myanmar friendship next year, the consensus reached by our leaders will lead us to focus on promoting relations emphasizing trade, culture and also media.”

Aye Thet Hlaing, the Channel Manager, explains Mizzima's history to the delegation (People's Daily Online/ He Zhuoyan)

Established in 1998 in New Delhi, India, Mizzima is well-known for being an unbiased and independent media outlet now based in Myanmar.

Soe Myint, Editor-In-Chief and Managing Director, as well as the founder of Mizzima Media Group, echoed Chen’s words, saying that media in Myanmar should play an important role in forging friendship and understanding between the people of Myanmar and China.

“This era is the Asian century, and China is the leader of the Asian century,” said Soe Myint.

“As an independent media outlet, we feel obliged to bring information about Myanmar to the outside world and also to bring information about China into our country,” said Soe, “so that people in Myanmar could understand the development China has made throughout the past 70 years, which is very impressive.”

Mizzima's office in Yangon, Myanmar (People's Daily Online/ He Zhuoyan)

Today, Mizzima produces an array of multimedia products and claims to be one of the top five private media houses in Myanmar.

With the huge influence the company has in the country, Soe feels obliged to inform Myanmar’s citizens of what’s happening around the world.

“In Myanmar, we are occupied with day-to-day challenges, and don’t know what’s happening in China or even our neighboring countries,” said Soe.

“Myanmar is part of ASEAN and China is an important friend to ASEAN. That means it is very important for us as a local media group to inform our citizens of what’s happening in China.”

Soe also highly praised China’s Belt and Road Initiative and emphasized his responsibility to make China’s voice heard in his own country.

“We can foresee what will happen in the next ten years. China has its enormous BRI project, which the people of Myanmar should understand more about,” said Soe, “Myanmar people will be able to make better-informed decisions after they become aware of China and the BRI.”