President exhorts state media to tell China’s ‘good story’

BEIJING: Chinese state media must tell the country’s story to the world better and become internationally influential, President Xi Jinping said yesterday, during a visit to three of the country’s main media outlets.

Chinese news outlets spanning television, radio and the internet have been expanding across the globe with state encouragement, aiming, Chinese leaders have said, to combat the negative images of China they feel are spread by world media.

State news agency Xinhua has opened dozens of news bureaus around the world; China Central Television (CCTV) has launched a 24-hour English-language channel in the US and the official China Daily newspaper publishes several regional editions across the globe.

Visiting the People’s Daily, CCTV and Xinhua, Xi said China must increase its ability to broadcast internationally, increase its voice on the global stage and “tell China’s story well”, state television said.

China must also create “flagship media with strong international influence” aimed at foreign audiences.

Xi also signalled the ruling Communist Party would not be relaxing its tight grip on the media.

Media must follow the party line, uphold the “correct guidance of public opinion” and promote “positive propaganda as the main theme”, the reports paraphrased Xi as saying.

Critical articles must be “accurate and have objective analysis”, he added. – Reuters