Oriented on making people closer

Astana, June 22 | ORIENT. Today, Astana hosted the China-Central Asia News Agency Forum, which brought together heads of the region's leading information resources. Participants held in-depth discussions on the topic of "Media integration and accumulation of experience to create a new chapter in cooperation between China and Central Asia”.

The forum of news agency heads was convened a few days after the Central Asia-China Summit held in the capital of Kazakhstan and is designed to develop a common strategy for promoting the initiatives announced there by the heads of China, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

The key role in organizing and holding the forum was played by the Xinhua News Agency, headed by its Director General Fu Hua, who opened the meeting with an opening speech. He noted that information interaction between the countries of the region plays a key role in forming a new narrative of international communication and promoting the concept of a common future.

The participants also included Director of the Television and Radio Complex of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Raushan Karibaeva, Director General of the State Information Agency of Kyrgyzstan "Kabar" Mederbek Shermetaliev, Director of the National Information Agency of Tajikistan "Khovar" Subhiddin Shamsiddinzoda, and Director General of the State Information Agency of Uzbekistan Abdusaid Kuchimov. Director General of the MEDIA TURKMEN Information Agency Bekdurdy Amansaryev took an active part in the dialogue, presenting a vision of a new chapter of cooperation, focusing on the integration of media resources and ideas. The sides stressed that in the face of rapid and profound changes in the world and the complex international situation, the media of China and the five Central Asian countries should continue to expand exchanges, deepen cooperation, join forces and coordinate actions, promote international fairness and equality, and push global governance in a more just and reasonable direction.

Media as a Bridge of Trust and Peace: Turkmenistan's Vision

In his speech, Bekdurdy Amansaryev emphasized that the current forum is much more than just an exchange of opinions. This is a space where the media future of the entire region is being formed, based on the principles of mutual respect, openness and harmony. He noted that the interaction between the countries of Central Asia and China is already demonstrating sustainable growth in all areas - from economics to culture, from transport to energy.

The head of MEDIA TURKMEN paid special attention to the mission of modern media. In the context of digital transformation, when information is becoming one of the key resources, mass media are called upon to be a reliable bridge between peoples and a source of trust, not disunity. According to him, information partnership is becoming a strategic tool for forming a positive agenda, strengthening mutual understanding and consolidation in the region.

Amansaryev emphasized that Turkmenistan has always been committed to developing international relations based on the principles of positive neutrality, openness and good neighborliness. This peacekeeping media policy of the country, consistently pursued by President Serdar Berdimuhamedov and National Leader of the Turkmen people Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, is fully in line with global calls for fairness and objectivity of information. In this context, he quoted Chinese President Xi Jinping, who spoke of the need to "strengthen the positive energy and voices that unite humanity," and Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, who highly praised the "Central Asia-China" format as a successful model of equal interaction and collective progress.

Concrete Steps Towards Integration: Turkmenistan’s Initiatives

In an effort to turn common goals into concrete actions, the Turkmen side is putting forward a number of relevant initiatives aimed at strengthening cooperation in the information space:

• Creation of a common multilingual platform with the participation of all Central Asian countries and the People’s Republic of China. This platform is intended to become a single point of access to information that overcomes language barriers.

• Implementation of data exchange programs, including visual and textual materials, as well as access to archives. This will ensure a deeper and more comprehensive exchange of content.

• Launch of joint initiatives in the field of media literacy and ethics of digital journalism. In the context of an abundance of information, it is extremely important to develop critical thinking in the audience and promote the dissemination of reliable information.

• Holding thematic exhibitions, festivals and creative competitions for media representatives from China and Central Asian countries. Such events contribute not only to professional growth, but also to cultural exchange.

One of the key proposals was the initiative to establish a Regional Center for Media Cooperation. Such a structure could serve as a coordinating platform for launching cross-border projects, training specialists, synchronizing content and developing common standards in the information space.

Bekdurdy Amansaryev emphasized that this approach is not just technical progress, but an investment in the future of dialogue between peoples. He referred to the words of National Leader of the Turkmen people Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov that "Turkmen-Chinese relations will continue to develop progressively, in the interests of peace, sustainable development and the well-being of our states."

In conclusion, the head of MEDIA TURKMEN expressed confidence that the partnership of mass media, based on the principles of peace, creation and sincere friendship, will become a solid support for the entire architecture of regional cooperation.

The ORIENT website of the MEDIA TURKMEN information agency has a motto: “Our benchmark is what brings people together,” which is in tune with the idea “We are strong when together!” These principles, according to Bekdurdy Amansaryev, are the foundation for joint success in confronting information challenges and providing the world with a reliable and balanced picture of the dynamically developing region.

The first China-Central Asia News Agency Leaders Forum was held in Beijing in May 2023, a few days after the historic summit of the heads of state of China, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan took place in Xi'an.

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