China Media Project translates remarks by the head of the State Council Information Office (SCIO) about China’s goals for external propaganda work in 2010:
At China’s annual national conference on external news and propaganda, held in Beijing on January 4 and 5, SCIO director Wang Chen (王晨) outlined core tasks for the coming year, including “being firmer and more timely in broadcasting China’s voice to the world.”
Wang emphasized that China must “do external propaganda well this year, planning comprehensively with the overall situations domestically and internationally taken into account together.”
China must, he said, “grab the discourse power, win the primary leadership right [in public opinion], and enhance its international communication capacity, working to realize an external public opinion power commensurate with China’s level of economic development and its international status.”
And here is Wang Chen’s opening speech, full English text provided by SOIC site:
Ladies and gentlemen,
Dear friends:
Good evening!
Today we have great pleasure to get together here when the New Year is drawing closer. First of all, on behalf of the State Council Information Office, I wish to extend warm welcome to foreign diplomats, press officials and friends from Chinese and foreign media circles.
The year 2009 stands as the most difficult year for China’s economic development since the beginning of the new century. The international financial crisis poses severe challenges to economic and social development in the whole world, including China. Faced with the complicated situation, the Chinese Government made resolute decisions to adopt a positive fiscal policy and a moderately easy monetary policy, and implemented a package of plans to tackle the financial crisis. Through these efforts, we have successfully converted challenges into opportunities, and have reversed the economic downturn. Moreover, new progress has been achieved in various areas in China.
In 2009, the State Council Information Office held a series of press conferences on themes such as celebrating the 60th anniversary of the founding of the PRC, tackling international financial crisis, economic growth, people’s livelihood, energy conservation and emission reduction, environmental and ecological protection. We published white papers on national defense, disaster relief, 50 years of democratic reform in Tibet, development and progress in Xinjiang, and China’s ethnic policy. We also organized groups of foreign journalists to cover events in China. Through these efforts, we hope to present a true China to the rest of the world, and to explain the Chinese Government’s policies and positions on various major issues. Moreover, we organized international exchanges such as seminars in China and other countries to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the PRC, press seminar within the framework of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, China-Japan media dialogue, China-ROK high-level media dialogue, the second China-UK Internet Roundtable and the third China-US Internet Industry Forum. We invited groups of foreign media executives to visit China, such as the delegation of high-ranking media executives from Latin American countries and the sixth Seminar for African Press Officials and Journalists. We have also conducted frank dialogues, sincere exchanges and fruitful cooperation with foreign media and government information institutions, thereby enhancing mutual understanding and trust. Entrusted by the State Council, we formulated and published National Human Rights Action Plan of China (2009–2010), attracting extensive attention and positive response. We helped China Society of Human Rights to invite nearly 100 human rights officials and scholars from 26 countries to attend the second Beijing Human Rights Forum, promoting the development of human rights and facilitating international dialogue and cooperation in the field of human rights. We also organized cultural events such as “Experience China”, “Tibet Development Forum”, providing a window and a platform for people in other countries to have a close look at the Chinese culture and China’s developments. Friends from media circles attached importance to these events, and offered positive coverage and objective comments, creating a favorable atmosphere. Friends present here also contributed to the success of these events. I wish to avail myself of this opportunity to sincerely thank all friends for your efforts in covering China in a truthful and objective manner.
The year 2010 will be last year for China to implement its “11th Five Year Plan”. World Expo will be held in Shanghai, and Asian Games will be held in Guangzhou. We sincerely welcome friends around the world, especially friends from the media circles to visit China to cover World Expo and Asian Games. We will faithfully implement the Regulations on News Coverage by Permanent Offices of Foreign Media Organizations and Foreign Journalists, and continue to provide service to help journalists report China’s socio-economic developments in a comprehensive, timely and accurate manner. We will hold media workshops, press seminars, bilateral or multilateral forums to conduct frank communication, sincere exchanges and fruitful cooperation. We will further strengthen mutual understanding and trust with foreign media and government information institutions. In 2010, the State Council Information Office will adopt a more open approach to communicate China’s voice to the world. We will make further efforts to help the world understand a prosperous, democratic, open, peaceful and harmonious China.
Ladies and gentlemen, dear friends: The New Year is only a few days away. On behalf of vice ministers and colleagues of the State Council Information Office, I would like to extend New Year’s greetings to all of you in advance. I wish you good health, successful career, happy family reunion and good luck in everything!
Now, I propose a toast for the New Year. Cheers!
Thank you!
