Islamabad (Monitoring Desk); Pakistan and China on Thursday agreed to deepen cooperation between their state broadcasters, pledging joint initiatives to counter fake news and disinformation.
The understanding came during a meeting in Beijing between Pakistan’s Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar and Cao Shumin, Deputy Head of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, who also serves as Minister and Party Secretary of the National Radio and Television Administration (NRTA).
During the meeting, both leaders underscored the importance of crafting a unified approach against disinformation and stressed the need for technical training and institutional collaboration. They termed ongoing media cooperation a reflection of deep-rooted trust and enduring friendship.
Discussions also covered a proposed agreement between China Central Television (CCTV) and Pakistan Television (PTV) aimed at promoting information exchange and broader media cooperation.
Minister Tarar expressed Pakistan’s readiness to convert these media collaborations into concrete initiatives. He highlighted the pivotal role of state-run outlets such as PTV, Radio Pakistan, and the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) in showcasing China’s development stories, the Belt and Road Initiative, CPEC projects, and the rich cultural ties between the two nations.
Tarar noted that PTV was actively building intellectual and cultural connections by airing Chinese programmes, documentaries, and news reports in Urdu. Meanwhile, APP’s dedicated “China News Service” had reached a major milestone in effectively conveying Pakistan’s perspective to Chinese audiences.
Referring to recent tensions between Pakistan and India, Tarar observed how the youth in both Pakistan and China had shown overwhelming support for each other on social media, highlighting the deep people-to-people bonds.
The two sides also explored plans for exchange visits involving digital influencers and social media representatives, which Tarar said could infuse new vitality into bilateral relations in today’s digital era.
Pakistan and China enjoy a time-tested strategic partnership anchored in mutual trust, economic collaboration, and shared goals for regional connectivity. Over the years, their ties have flourished across multiple domains — from trade and energy to infrastructure and media — with projects like the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) standing as a testament to their joint vision for development.
For her part, Cao Shumin affirmed China’s view of Pakistan as a trusted partner, adding that greater exchanges among media organisations could bring the two nations even closer. Both sides agreed that enhanced cooperation in media, culture, and people-to-people interactions would introduce fresh dimensions to the Pakistan-China friendship, strengthening ties under a shared strategic framework.
