Forum seeks to better promote mutual benefit, understanding

BUENOS AIRES－Representatives from more than 100 media outlets from China, Latin America and the Caribbean agreed to boost cooperation.

Participants of the China-Latin America and the Caribbean Media Forum, held in Argentina's capital Buenos Aires, discussed ways on Monday to promote cooperation for their mutual benefit.

Organized by China's Xinhua News Agency and Argentina's Federal System of Media and Public Content, the three-day event drew representatives from 13 Chinese media outlets and over a hundred news agencies from more than 20 Latin American and Caribbean nations.

The forum tabled such topics as the media's role in pragmatic cooperation between China, Latin America and the Caribbean, and participants discussed creating a media communication platform between China-Latin America and the Caribbean through new cooperation.

The creation of a community of shared future between China and Latin America will favor mutual understanding, spur greater cooperation and exchanges between media entities, and share information through truthful, integral, objective and balanced coverage, the organizers said in a statement following the forum.

Hernan Lombardi, head of Argentina's Federal System of Media and Public Content, said that in a world "full of challenges and opportunities", it is essential to promote greater understanding between China and Latin America.

"The media play a decisive and important role in the formation of public opinion in our societies, so boosting exchanges is bound to be beneficial," Lombardi said.

Iary Gomez Quesada, general manager of Costa Rican newspaper group Diario Extra, said that media cooperation between China and Latin America could promote cultural exchanges and strengthen mutual understanding.

The television station of the group recently introduced two Chinese TV series. Both showcase Chinese culture and have evoked an enthusiastic response among viewers, the general manager said.

Nestor Marin, editor-in-chief of Cuban news agency Prensa Latina, spotlighted his agency's close ties with Chinese media since its establishment in 1959.

"Help and cooperation have been factors that have contributed to bringing those who are geographically distant closer together," said Marin.

One challenge facing media in Latin America is how to optimally gather and broadcast information about the Belt and Road Initiative and "the impact of China's presence in Latin America", Marin added.

Keith Eccleston Campbell, president and executive director of Jamaica's Public Radio Corporation, hailed the rise of new media and its ability to reach wider audiences.

China is playing a fundamental role in this area by seeking "mutually beneficial cooperation and shared development with Latin America and the Caribbean through collaboration in new media platforms", said Campbell.

"China, along with Latin America and the Caribbean region, has built a bridge for exchanges of content and intercultural communication. The web is the main platform used," he added.

Carlos Becerra of Editora Peru publishing house, said China-Latin America media cooperation could be reflected in "scientific and technological support to increase coverage, ratings and readership".

Jose Juan Sanchez, president and founder of Brazilian multinational consulting firm CMA Group, hailed his company's recent agreement with Xinhua's economic information service.

The agreement is "primarily an opportunity to supply China with direct information on behalf of (Brazil's) agribusiness, and for us to receive information on Chinese raw materials", said Sanchez, who attended the forum.

Alejandro Ramos Esquivel, director general of Mexican news agency Notimex, said that representatives of various media organizations in China and Latin America gathered to discuss opportunities for cooperation and future trends.

Xinhua