Russian-Chinese working group on mass media working in Beijing

Cooperation between Russia and China in the sphere of radio, television and other types of mass media became the main theme which the participants in the first meeting of the Russian-Chinese group on cooperation in the field of mass media discussed in Beijing on Monday.

Minister of the Press, TV and Radio Broadcasting and Mass Media of Russia Mikhail Lesin participated in the work of the meeting. The Russian part of the bilateral working group is headed by First Deputy Minister of the Press Mikhail Seslavinsky. The Russian side is represented also by the heads of RIA Novosti, the All-Russia State Television and Radio Company (VGTRK), the ITAR-TASS and Interfax information agencies, and Rossiiskaya Gazeta, and by representatives of the Russian Foreign Ministry.

The adopted plan for 2003 provides for an exchange of TV programmes between the state TV companies and for creation of joint TV programmes by the Central Television of China and the VGTRK.

The plan envisages further development of information cooperation between RIA Novosti and the Renmin Ribao holding.

The participants in the meeting reached agreement on cooperation between Radio Russia and Central People's Radio of the PRC and on development of contacts between International Radio of China and The Voice of Russia.

It is also intended to hold a competition for the best reportage on China among young journalists of the regional printed mass media and radio companies of Russia.