From October 13th to 24th, the School of Journalism and Communication at Renmin University of China hosted a 12-day seminar for Asian media professionals. The program brought together 15 media representatives from Asian countries including Sri Lanka, Mongolia, Thailand, and Cambodia. The participants gathered to embark on a journey of cross-border exchange and professional dialogue.

01 Opening Ceremony: Building a Platform for Exchange, Promoting Mutual Cultural Understanding

The opening ceremony of the Asian Media Professionals Seminar was held on October 14th at the Documentation Center of the School of Journalism and Communication. Ms. Wei Xin, Counselor of the Department of Asian Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China, and Ms. Yan Yan, Associate Dean of International Affairs & Professor at the school attended the ceremony, along with all seminar participants. The ceremony was hosted by Ms. Qian Cheng, Associate Professor at the School.

At the outset, Ms. Qian announced the official launch of the training program and extended a warm welcome to the participants on behalf of the school.

Ms. Wei Xin expressed her hope in the address that the participants would deeply experience contemporary China, uphold the professional spirit of journalism, and convey their observations to audiences in their home countries from an objective and fair perspective. This, she noted, would jointly promote cross-cultural understanding and exchange, enabling them to become fair disseminators of information, active communicators between cultures, and co-promoters of global understanding. She wished the training program great success.

Ms. Yan Yan extended a sincere welcome to all the participants.

02 In Session: Diverse Learning Experiences, Constructing a Picture of China

The seminar’s schedule was intensive and enriching. During the twelve-day program, participants attended themed lectures hosted by Renmin University of China and Tsinghua University. These sessions covered key topics such as China’s media development, whole-process people’s democracy, and Chinese modernization, providing a systematic analysis of the nation’s development trajectory and core philosophies from a theoretical standpoint.

For the site visits, participants toured representative media institutions and high-tech enterprises like People’s Daily, China Media Group, and Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. This allowed them to closely observe innovative practices within China’s media industry and cutting-edge technological advancements. Furthermore, the seminar organized visits to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Museum of the Communist Party of China. These excursions allowed participants to gain a deeper understanding of China’s development, its role on the international stage, and its global contributions through the dual lenses of historical context and diplomatic strategy. The participants also traveled to Zhengzhou, Henan Province, to visit institutions and companies such as Henan Radio & Television and Yutong Bus, experiencing local media operations and the current state of manufacturing development.

By combining theoretical lectures with on-site visits, the seminar constructed a multi-dimensional and authentic picture of China for the participants, rendering their perception of contemporary China more comprehensive, profound, and concrete.

03Closing Ceremony: New Perspectives and Future Cooperation

The closing ceremony was held on October 23 at the School of Journalism and Communication, RUC. Zhao Shuguang, Vice Dean of the School of Journalism and Communication, RUC, attended the event. Zhao Jin, Foreign Affairs Secretary of the Office of International Exchange and Cooperation at the School.

Zhao Jin introduced the guests and screened a short video reviewing highlights from the training program. Zhao Shuguang congratulated all participants on successfully completing the program and presented them with certificates of completion.

During the ceremony, participants from different countries shared their reflections and experiences. They noted that the program had given them a more systematic and in-depth understanding of China’s political philosophy, media landscape, and cultural traditions. Many expressed their intention to integrate what they had learned into their professional work and to promote mutual understanding and media cooperation between their home countries and China.

The successful conclusion of the Asian Media Professionals Seminar program has laid a solid foundation for enhanced exchanges and collaboration among Asian media organizations. It is expected to further strengthen media cooperation and cultural dialogue across Asia, contributing to closer regional connectivity and shared development in the years ahead.

Translator: Yang Ruirui, Tang Song, Lai Chen