chinese and indonesian media discuss cooperation, "don't let rumors and misunderstandings occupy the information space of both sides"
2024-09-03
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on september 2, the "2024 china-indonesia media forum: responsibilities and challenges of media in the new era" was held in beijing, with representatives and guests from many mainstream media from both countries attending. the forum was jointly organized by the chinese embassy in indonesia, the china public diplomacy association, and the indonesian editors forum.
during the discussion session, experts and media editors from china and indonesia exchanged views on topics such as "the positive role of the media in promoting the building of a china-indonesia community with a shared future, china-asean and even an asian community with a shared future" and "the opportunities and challenges brought to the media by new productivity and technological innovation."
on september 2, the 2024 china-indonesia media forum. photo courtesy of china public diplomacy association
tong xiaoling, vice president of the china public diplomacy association, said in her speech that china and indonesia are both major forces in the "global south". the solidarity and cooperation between the two countries is the growth of global development forces, the growth of world peace and stability forces, and an important driving force for the multipolarization of the world. this year marks the 70th anniversary of the publication of the five principles of peaceful coexistence, and next year marks the 70th anniversary of the bandung conference. in the new era, we believe that china and indonesia will carry forward their historical traditions, work together to maintain world peace, improve global governance, promote regional development, defend the common interests of the "global south", and promote the deepening and implementation of the china-indonesia community of shared future.
over the past decade, china-indonesia relations have maintained a strong momentum of development, with frequent high-level bilateral exchanges. just 11 days after being officially elected as indonesian president, indonesian defense minister prabowo chose china for his first visit. this visit to china, which is considered an "extraordinary" trip, fully reflects the high level of china-indonesia relations. suta, editor-in-chief of indonesia's kompas newspaper, said in his speech that china-indonesia relations have great potential, and the same is true for the media of the two countries.
next year will also be the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between china and indonesia. darro jatu, editor-in-chief of indonesian independent network, told the paper (www.thepaper.cn) that in an information space dominated by western media perspectives, chinese and indonesian media should strengthen cooperation so that the people of the two countries can directly see accurate and balanced reports, "rather than only understanding each other's country through a third-party perspective."
on september 2, the 2024 china-indonesia media forum. photo courtesy of china public diplomacy association
china is indonesia's largest trading partner and one of its most important neighbors. according to xinhua news agency, china's investment in indonesia reached us$7.4 billion in 2023. nurul ihwan, an official in charge of investment planning at the indonesian investment coordinating board, pointed out that many chinese investment projects are located in the relatively backward eastern region of indonesia, which is very conducive to indonesia's promotion of balanced regional development.
however, suta pointed out in his speech that research shows that some indonesians are still less receptive to chinese investment than expected. china's new energy vehicles are developing strongly in indonesia, but indonesians still regard nissan as their first choice. "the trust of the indonesian people is not proportional to the investment of chinese companies." suta emphasized, "therefore, it is even more necessary for the indonesian media to work closely with the chinese media to change the perception of the indonesian people and further deepen the relationship between the people of the two countries."
speaking at the forum, elba, editor-in-chief of indonesia's republic daily, said that chinese investment has entered indonesia, developed locally, and benefited the indonesian people. "the media needs to play a role in letting the public know this fact."
when talking about the above-mentioned bias in private information, experts at the meeting believed that the proliferation of information and lack of supervision on social media are one of the interference factors. at the same time, reports from third-party perspectives will also cause indonesian people to misunderstand china to a certain extent.
elba stressed that the media can play a key role in the public's formation of a basic impression of a country. chinese media experts also pointed out that the media of the two countries should continue to deepen cooperation and exchange information so that the public can directly see correct and objective reports, otherwise the information space of the two countries is likely to be "occupied" by rumors and misunderstandings. "the media of the two countries should send out a common and strong voice and not let misunderstandings or even divisive voices occupy the market." liu hong, a senior reporter of xinhuanet, told the paper.
darojatu told the paper that if we only rely on third-party reports to understand each other for a long time, it is easy to have information gaps and misunderstandings in the process. "i know that some chinese media have been reporting in indonesian. now i can follow news about china in my own language instead of just observing china through western media. this is very important for people who really want to understand china."
thepaper.cn reporter yang wenqin
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