[Korea.net] The governments of Seoul and Beijing have agreed that nothing is more important than the role that broadcasters, writers, editors and other journalists play when it comes to spreading the world about the many cooperative efforts being made between the two countries, neighbors who share many things in common, both culturally and historically.

The eighth Korea-China Forum for High-Ranking Journalists brought together more than 60 journalists and government officials from Korea and China on May 23 in Seoul. It gave them a chance to discuss a wide range of ways in which bilateral cooperation across all fields of journalism could be expanded.

They mainly discussed ways in which they could deepen media cooperation, and how to materialize the "Four Forms of Partnership.” In July 2014 during President Xi Jinping's state visit to Korea, President Park Geun-hye and he vowed to work as partners on the Four Forms of Partnership: partnership on co-prosperity; partnership on regional peace; partnership on working hand-in-hand to promote Asian countries; and, lastly, partnership on global prosperity.

Liu Qibao (left), head of the Propaganda Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, and Deputy Prime Minister Lee Joon-sik shake hands during the eighth Korea-China Forum for High-Ranking Journalists in Seoul on May 23.

“Developing the Four Forms of Partnership will pave the way for a better, brighter future for our ties,” said Liu Qibao, head of the Propaganda Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China. “With this whole new level of cooperation, media personnel should ask themselves what sort of responsibility they should take and what sort of efforts they should make.”

“Editors, correspondents and other journalists from both countries are required to identify what has forged the development of bilateral ties between our two nations, and then report objectively, accurately, trustworthily and without any doubts. In particular, they should bring to their audience's attention the core strategies that have made this relationship successful, such as the results of the Korea-China FTA, the ‘Made in China 2025’ initiative aimed at growing China’s manufacturing industry, and Korea’s ‘creative industries’ plan,” said Liu.

Mentioning the huge popularity across all of China of the recent KBS TV show “Descendents of the Sun,” Liu said, “The way our two peoples have shared similar cultural and historical experiences, as well as our shared cultural perceptions, has brought us all closer together than other peoples. In that sense, media people from our two countries should serve as envoys who help more cross-cultural exchanges to take place between our two nations, who introduce traditions and cultural ideologies inherent in each of our peoples, as well as the literature and artists that each nation owns, and bring all this to more audiences all around the world.”

President of the China International Publishing Group (CIPG) Zhou Mingwei (left) and Director of the Korean Culture and Information Service Kim Kabsoo sign a memorandum of understanding to co-produce and share content, and to undertake joint projects between the two organizations. Liu Qibao (back, left), head of the Propaganda Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, and Deputy Prime Minister Lee Joon-sik look on.

Deputy Prime Minister Lee Joon-sik pointed out that this year marks the 24th anniversary of the establishment of modern diplomatic ties between Seoul and Beijing. He said, “Both countries have built a strategic partnership over the past many years, across many areas, from politics and business, through to education. This has only been possible because we share similar histories, traditions and societies based on the use of Chinese characters and Confucianism."

Quoting a speech by Chinese President Xi Jinping when he was lecturing students at Seoul National University, Lee said, “You must climb higher before you want to look any further.” The deputy prime minister called on broadcasters, writers and editors to help further expand bilateral cooperation between the two nations across many sectors, including cross-cultural exchange programs. “This forum is meaningful and timely. It allows journalists to talk about things of common interest and to muster up common wisdom. Hopefully, the broadcasters and writers who play a central role in developing our bilateral relations will meet up as often as possible, deepening the understanding between each other, and further enhance our partnership,” Lee said.

By Sohn JiAe
Korea.net Staff Writer
Photos: Jeon Han Korea.net Photographer
jiae5853@korea.kr