China Arab TV deputy editor-in-chief hails China's growing appeal for Arab audiences

Media serve as a bridge for cultural exchange and mutual understanding between China and the Arab world, and that bridge is being renewed all the time, said Mohamed Beiji, deputy editor-in-chief of China Arab TV, in an interview with People's Daily Online. As China and Arab countries draw closer, he said, Arab audiences are showing growing interest in both China's ancient heritage and its modern development — and Chinese television dramas are helping bring the two sides closer.

In Beiji's office in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), a large world map is covered with markers showing where China Arab TV's satellite signals reach. Those signals now span 22 Arab countries and regions across West Asia and North Africa, reaching nearly 500 million people. The channel is also carried on the UAE's national cable network, reaching nearly 10 million cable TV households. For Beiji, the work is about using screens and signals to help two ancient civilizations see and understand each other.

China Arab TV does more than broadcast news. It also produces a wide range of programming, including cartoons, films and TV dramas, and its translated Chinese productions have found an enthusiastic following. Hit Chinese dramas such as "Ode to Joy," "Dear Mayang Street" and "Mother's Life" have won over local viewers, who follow episodes in real time, comment on characters and plotlines on social media, and even press for new episodes. "My own favorite is 'Beijing Youth,'" Beiji said. "I was drawn to its story of young people starting businesses and striving to build their lives."

Asked whether Arab viewers are more attracted to ancient or modern China, Beiji said: "Both." Audiences are fascinated by China's deep history and eager to explore its cultural mysteries, he explained, while also curious about its rapid economic growth, fast-changing cities and emerging technologies.

Beiji has also observed a shift in China-Arab exchanges: what was once largely official is now increasingly driven by ordinary people from all walks of life. More Arabs are traveling to China for business and tourism, and the everyday moments they share on short-video platforms often prompt friends to ask practical questions — such as "What app do you use to hail a taxi in China?" or "How do you pay with your phone?" Such firsthand, person-to-person sharing, Beiji said, is creating the most authentic and vivid impressions of China among Arab audiences.

As both a journalist and a translator, Beiji believes media and books should help sustain that people-to-people bridge. "Our responsibility is to make sure the information crossing that bridge is accurate, comprehensive and deep."

Beiji's own China story began in 2009, when a coincidental opportunity took him to Beijing Language and Culture University to study Chinese language and literature. With "China fever" and "Chinese language fever" now rising across the Arab world, more young Arabs are eager to learn Chinese and understand the country. Beiji's advice to them is also simple.

"First, stick with it. Second, book a flight to China as soon as possible," said Beiji. "People in China are happy to talk with you. You can immerse yourself in their friendliness, and your spoken Chinese will improve fast."

As 2026 marks the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Arab states, Beiji also expressed his hope that the two sides will deepen cooperation in more fields, strengthen political trust and economic interaction, and explore new technological cooperation. He also hopes that media colleagues on both sides will tell more and more moving stories about China and the Arab world.