BEIJING – Pakistan and China have agreed to boost cooperation between their national broadcasters to counter fake news and strengthen media ties through joint initiatives.
The agreement was reached during a meeting in Beijing between Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Attaullah Tarar, and Cao Shumin, Deputy Head of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Minister of China’s National Radio and Television Administration (NRTA).
Both sides stressed the importance of a shared media narrative against disinformation and emphasized the need for technical training and institutional collaboration. They viewed their growing media partnership as a symbol of mutual confidence and the enduring friendship between the two nations.
Discussions also included a proposed media agreement between China Central Television (CCTV) and Pakistan Television (PTV). The agreement aims to strengthen cooperation in news sharing, documentaries, training resources, and technical expertise.
Minister Tarar affirmed Pakistan’s commitment to transforming bilateral media cooperation into tangible outcomes. He noted that PTV, Radio Pakistan, and the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) are playing a key role in promoting stories of Chinese progress, the Belt and Road Initiative, CPEC, and the deepening cultural and diplomatic ties between the countries.
He added that PTV is serving as a cultural bridge by broadcasting Chinese news, documentaries, and programs in Urdu. Similarly, APP’s China News Service is now effectively delivering Pakistan’s perspective to Chinese audiences.
Tarar emphasized that the media outlets in both countries are fostering closer people-to-people connections and mutual cultural understanding. He said there is significant room to expand media and cultural collaboration through formal institutional frameworks.
Referring to the recent Pakistan-India tensions, Tarar said the youth of China and Pakistan expressed strong solidarity with each other, which went viral on social media.
The meeting also discussed exchange visits of digital influencers from both Pakistan and China.
The information minister said in the digital age, exchanges between influencers and social media representatives of both countries can inject new energy into bilateral relations.
Cao Shumin said China considers Pakistan a trustworthy partner. She said media organizations of Pakistan and China can come closer through exchange of experiences.
