SA, China sign information deal
Thabo Mokgola
14 July 2004
The flow of information between South Africa and China received a boost on Monday when the two countries signed a Letter of Intent in Pretoria.
The agreement, between the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) and the Chinese State Council Information Office, was signed by Minister in the Presidency Essop Pahad and Chinese Vice-Minister of Information Wang Guoqing.
The Letter of Intent aims to enhance mutual cooperation and exchanges in the fields of media and information between the two parties.
Guoqing described the agreement as the fruit of his five-day visit to the country.
"The people of the two countries need to know each other more because we are facing the same tasks and challenges to develop our countries, build our economies and to improve the living standards of our people," he said.
He said the visit broadened opportunities for further cooperation among media personnel of the two countries.
The
two parties agreed to promote mutual visits by high-level delegations of up to six persons every two years for a period of about seven days, starting from next year, establish a work consultation mechanism and a relationship of continued cooperation.
This will also include an exchange of communication periodicals, books, electronic video and audio products, and other relevant media and information products from both countries.
They also agreed to promote exchange and cooperation between media organisations in the two countries.
The exchange will include the seconding of journalists to cover news and actuality items, encourage the holding of seminars and workshops with the participation of media organisations of the two countries.
The agreement will remain in force for two years.
"It is important for the South African media personnel to go to China and experience for themselves and vice-versa...given the important role China plays in world affairs," Pahad
said.
He said talks had already been held with the South African National Editors Forum about the exchange programme to which the latter gave a warm response.
The Chinese visit follows a trip last September by a GCIS delegation to China as part of Government's objective to learn from the communication experiences of other countries and share South African experiences.
During their visit here, the Chinese visited the International Marketing Council, SANEF, Blue IQ, South African Broadcasting Corporation and Independent Communication Authority of South Africa.
Source: BuaNews
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