By Azer Parrocha/PNA
MANILA — Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar on Tuesday thanked the Chinese media for reporting good news about the Philippines and providing Philippine state-media with support in terms of media training and development.
“During those times that we needed media support internationally, it was China who was there for us,” Andanar said upon meeting China’s National Radio and Television Administration (NRTA) Minister Nie Chenxi and other Chinese media officials.
Nie and other officials from different media agencies paid a courtesy call to the PCOO chief at Shangri-La hotel in Taguig City.
“While the Western media was endlessly criticizing the Philippines. I felt that we were in good standing because of the more than 1.3 billion Chinese watching the interviews that were being made by your media,” he added.
Andanar was referring to positive coverage of the Philippines by leading Chinese news agencies like China Central Television (CCTV), and China Xinhua News Network Corporation.
Andanar said he advocated for and believed in the programs of Chinese media because of their “sincerity”.
“I am very grateful for this gesture by the Chinese government and Chinese government media for spreading good news about the Philippines,” Andanar said.
He thanked Chinese state-run media for training more than 50 journalists from Philippine state-run media which are all attached agencies of the PCOO.
“We have been, and we continuously work with the People’s Republic in China in the field of communications. We have sent more than 50 delegates from the Philippines to China to learn the communications industry of your country,” Andanar said.
“We are very grateful for the opportunity that your country has given our media people here in the Philippines,” he added.
Andanar also expressed hope that a memorandum of agreement between the PCOO and NRTA would soon be signed.
Nie, meanwhile, looked forward to a deeper cooperation between Chinese and Philippine media.
“We should promote the exchanges of program such as documentary and news clips especially after the initiative of Belt and Road by Mr. Xi Jinping,” Nie said.
”Our President visiting your country will deepen our cooperation so Chinese and Philippine media counterparts should play a bigger role in promoting Belt and Road Initiative,” he added.
Last September, PCOO and Philippine embassy officials met with NRTA officials in Beijing to discuss ways of enhancing media cooperation and strengthening media partnerships in relation to China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
