BEIJING, China — The Government of the People’s Republic of China has urged 109 journalists from 101 countries participating in the second session of the China International Press Communication Center (CIPCC) 2026 program to help strengthen understanding between China and the rest of the world through objective and firsthand reporting.
By J.H. Webster Clayeh, [email protected]
The call was made Tuesday, September 8, 2026, during the opening ceremony of the international media exchange program held at the Renmin University of China in Beijing.
The CIPCC is a major international media exchange and journalism program organized under the China Public Diplomacy Association (CPDA).
Established in 2014, the program brings journalists from developing countries and the Global South to China for firsthand reporting, professional exchanges and cultural experiences.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, China’s Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hong Lei, said the CIPCC was established to provide a bridge for media professionals from Global South countries to come closer to and better understand China.
“I hope through your participation in the program, you will become “bosom” friends of China and help better connect China with the world,” Mr. Hong said.
The Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister also urged the journalists to develop what he described as an intimate understanding of China’s history and dynamism and to present the world with what he called a true, multidimensional and panoramic picture of China through objective coverage and diverse perspectives.
“I hope you will delve deep into the vivid practices of Global South countries advancing modernization together, and bring them to a wider audience, so that the world will hear the voice of South-South cooperation, and the story of our win-win cooperation will become the prevailing narrative of our times,” he said.
Mr. Hong added: “I hope you will transcend the barriers between different cultures and civilizations and strengthen the bond of mutual respect and mutual learning, so that dialogue between civilizations will continue forever.”
Replacing Stereotypes with On-the-Ground Observations
Also speaking at the ceremony, Tong Xiaoling, Vice President of the China Public Diplomacy Association, called on participating journalists to use their objective lenses to help reshape narratives about China.
She said the world is undergoing profound changes amid what she described as “intertwined” global challenges, making cross-border media exchanges increasingly important.
“Against this complex backdrop, candid exchanges among cross-border media practitioners are all the more essential. Stereotypes ought to be replaced by on-the-ground observations, and global narratives ought to be enriched by diverse perspectives, so as to inject public opinion
momentum into mutual trust, enhanced understanding and deeper cooperation among nations,” Madam Tong said.
She added: “News media serve as bridge across national borders and bonds connecting peoples. Transcending geographical divides, they enable societies to see one another’s true realities. Grounded in facts, they mitigate misperceptions and prejudices and create viable pathways for dialogue among civilizations.”
According to the CPDA Vice President, over the past 12 years, the China International Press Communication Center has worked to establish a platform for media professionals worldwide to perceive and engage with China.
She said the program has advanced China-foreign press exchanges and public diplomacy while expanding its outreach from selected regions to countries across the globe.
“Successive generations of overseas journalists have traveled across China. With pens and cameras, they have toured the country, witnessed its development and experienced its culture. Through professional perspectives, authentic writings and vivid footages, they have chronicled the development transformations, people-centered vitality and cultural heritage of China in the new era.”
More Than 700 Journalists Trained Since 2014
This year marks 12 years since the inception of the China International Press Communication Center, with Renmin University of China hosting participating journalists in its dormitory facilities during the program.
Professor Zhang Donggang, Secretary of the Communist Party of China Renmin University of China Committee, said the CIPCC program is China’s largest and most comprehensive professional development
program for foreign journalists and one of the programs with the greatest influence.
“For more than a decade, successive groups of foreign journalists have engaged directly with Chinese society and observed China’s development, while bringing to China the -experience, cultures and concerns of their own countries and regions,” he said.
Professor Zhang added: “Since 2014, Renmin University of China has played a major role in hosting the program and has trained more than 700 media professionals from over 100 countries and regions. In doing so, it has created an important platform for journalists from China and around the world to deepen understanding, expand exchanges, strengthen cooperation and build mutual trust.”
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