China stresses media collaboration with South Korea

By Ma Fei, Chen Shangwen from People’s Daily

Despite divergences in stances and perspectives, Chinese and South Korean media should boost collaborations through mutual trust and dispelling doubts, Liu Qibao, head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, said on Sunday at a high-level media dialogue.

Hailing the intensified Sino-South Korean media and cultural exchanges, Liu illustrated in his speech that Descendants of the Sun, a popular South Korean TV drama, reached 3.2 billion views on a Chinese online video platform, setting a new record among South Korean dramas played in China.

At the same time, two Chinese TV dramas, Empresses in the Palace and Nirvana in Fire, have won much popularity in South Korea, he added.

Liu admitted that because of different stances and perspectives, there must be divergences when the media cooperate and communicate with each other.

But he pointed that the media should, by riding on the sound ties between the two countries, report more on pragmatic cooperation and friendship in an objective way, in a bid to help the two countries reinforce trust and dispel doubts.

Connections on bilateral development strategies and opportunities brought by Sino-South Korean free trade agreement should be given more emphasis in their coverage, stressed Liu, who is also a member of the Political Bureau as well as secretariat of the CPC Central Committee.

He also urged bilateral media to report more on how China-initiated strategies like “Made in China 2025” and “Internet Plus” align with South Korea’s plans including “creative economy” and “Industry Innovation Movement 3.0.”

Both medias should also focus on how to dock the “Belt and Road” initiative put forward by China and the “Eurasia Initiative” proposed by South Korea, he added.

Besides, Liu also called on the media to cover efforts made by both sides in the denuclearization of Korean Peninsula, safeguarding the stability of Northeast Asia, as well as other international affairs for regional peace, stability and prosperity.

Stressing the wide-ranging common interest shared by both sides on the issue of Korean Peninsula, Liu reiterated that China has been committed itself to realizing the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, safeguarding peace and stability of the Peninsula and peacefully resolving problems through dialogue and consultation.