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China holds seminar for journalists from developing countries

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-11-26 23:21

BEIJING: A seminar for press officials and journalists from developing countries around the globe started here Thursday.

The two-week seminar, sponsored by China's Ministry of Commerce (MOC) and organized by the Information Office of the State Council, attracted 95 participants from 43 developing countries, including Albania, Egypt, Ghana and Bosnia.

The participants will attend workshops chaired by China's press officials and university professors and visit news organizations in Beijing and the southwestern Guizhou Province, said Ji Fang, a senior official with the Information Office.

She said this was the first time in China that such a seminar was held targeting journalists from developing countries as a whole.

"Similar historical paths and same demand for development have bound our together," said Jin Xu, an MOC senior official at the opening ceremony of the seminar.

Yan Wenbin, head of the department for overseas service of China's Xinhua News Agency, delivered the lecture "The Role of Chinese Media in Promoting Social Changes -  A Case Study of Xinhua News Agency" at the seminar.

Yan took questions on media bias, news organization cooperation and information revolution from participants.

"This seminar is a window into understanding," said Gondwe Zilanie, an editor with Guardian News based in Malawi.

Zilanie said she expected to discuss a range of topics, including media control and media bias, with the other participants at the seminar which had provided "good networking opportunities" for her.