Full coverage: Belt and Road Media Community

In the afternoon of May 3, 2016, the “Introduction and Promotion Event of China Film and TV Programs” (the Event), sponsored by the State Council Information Office and the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television of the People's Republic of China (SARFT), was held in Hammamet, Tunisia, as part of the Arab Radio and TV Festival (the Festival).

At the Event, a crop of excellent Chinese films and TV programs were staged in Arabic to implement the initiative of the “Belt and Road Media Community”, which was positively responded by various media of Arab countries. As the organizer of China-Arab joint exhibition booth for the Festival, China International Television Corporation (CITVC) brought more than 1600 hours of Chinese programs, including TV series, movies, documentaries, animated films and variety shows, of which 900 hours were dubbed in Arabic. Specifically, the programs included the latest hot costume drama Nirvana in Fire, the Kongfu classic The Legend of Bruce Lee, urban TV plays Diamond Lover, a 4K full-length documentary The Great Wall, a feature film Journey of the Salar which reflects the life of Chinese Muslims, a variety show China’s Spring Festival Gala and a high quality 3D animated film Panda and Little Mole. All these Chinese stories with fresh contents were very popular in the Arabian market.

Meanwhile, CITVC officially proposed an initiative to unite various television media including those of Arab countries to jointly build a “Belt and Road Media Community”, which was positively responded by the media of Arab countries.

Tang Shiding, Vice President of CITVC, stated that members of the Community would focus on cooperative operation of localized sessions and channels overseas, and carry out extensive cooperation on reciprocal program transaction, international co-production, simultaneous broadcasting, information and resource sharing, aiming to build consensus among various media of the countries along the “Belt and Road”, and converge regional media resources to jointly promote the cultures and spirit of the Silk Road, and enhance connectivity of people and mutual leaning between different civilizations.  

Jia Peng, Deputy Director of CCTV’s Arabic Channel, recommended some programs at the Event and introduced that, since its first broadcasting in 2009, the Arabic Channel has won a place in the competition of Arabic programs in the world and a total of 8.5 million overseas users.

In 2014, the Arabic Channel began to use a brand new news studio to broadcast programs in high definition. According to a survey, respondents of 7 Arab countries generally believed that the news report of Arabic Channel has a unique perspective which is different from Western values and the news involved Arabic countries showed China’s stance without following the suit. Meanwhile, its advantage also lies in “fair and objective coverage without being partial to any party”. At the Event, CCTV signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Arab States Broadcasting Union (ASBU) on accepting the Arabic Channel as an associate member.

During this Festival, CCTV also selected a variety of programs to run for TV program awards, including an animated film The Adventures of Little Carp, a TV series Jin Tailang’s Happy Life, a variety show Spring Festival Galas and an anti-terrorism feature film.

At the Event, industry experts at home and abroad from videoland such as Ningxia TV Station and Tunisia TV Station introduced their respective platforms, channels and programs and conducted in-depth communications. Attendees expressed that against the backdrop of the “Belt and Road” initiative and the further friendly cooperation between China and Arab countries, the Event had built a bridge and a link for the countries to connect people and enhance mutual trust, which will inject new impetus and bring a new stage to China-Arab people-to-people exchanges and media cooperation.

The Event was attended by over 200 people, including Chinese Ambassador to Tunisia, Secretary General of ASBU, Chairman of China-Tunisia Cooperation Council, and representatives from 21 ABSU countries and representatives from f Asian and European media. 

The 2016 Arab Radio and TV Festival attracted approximately 2,000 exhibitors from over 200 Radio and TV stations in 21 Arab countries and other regions of Europe and Asia.