Journalists from both sides of Pacific Ocean join hands

Media leaders and workers from China and Latin American and Caribbean countries put their heads together on Tuesday at a media summit to discuss how they could join hands to help facilitate closer and stronger relationships.

At the first China-Latin America Media Summit, held in Chile's capital of Santiago on Tuesday, some 27 media representatives from Latin American and Caribbean countries sat with their Chinese counterparts from more than 30 mainstream Chinese media outlets.

They exchanged views and thoughts on a range of common concerns, from free trade, business development, cultural exchanges and climate change to social inequality, education, and women's and children's rights.

Speaking at the media summit, Juan Paulo Iglesias, chief editor of Santiago-based newspaper La Tercera, said he would devote his efforts to covering business and trade developments between China and Latin America.

"It's very important for people in Latin America to hear more news about Asia, about China," said Iglesias, a journalist since 1999.

"The stories, not necessarily all political, can be cultural, human interest stories and side topics," he said, adding that there is tremendous room for media on both sides to improve their coverage, to expand the depth and breadth of their stories.

Chinese media have begun covering Latin America more vigorously, motivated by President Xi Jinping's three visits to the region.

"These visits have generated good opportunities and topics for the media to produce stories around the theme of friendship and good relations," said Alejandro Ramos Esquivel, president of Notimex, Mexico's official news agency, adding that his agency has had extensive cooperation with Chinese media over the years, "principally with Xinhua and CCTV in terms of content sharing."

Aside from the extensive range of topics available for media on both sides to work on, there are many formats and channels through which outlets can deepen their professional cooperation, Esquivel said.

junechang@chinadailyusa.com