MIIT, CMG seal cooperation, advance industrial cultural program

The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) and China Media Group (CMG) signed on Friday a framework agreement on strategic cooperation, and held a seminar for the first large-scale industrial cultural program jointly produced by CMG and MIIT, anchored on Kaogongji (The Book of Diverse Crafts), the earliest known Chinese text on science and technology.

Li Lecheng, minister of MIIT, and Shen Haixiong, president of CMG, delivered remarks and jointly witnessed the signing of the agreement.

Also attending the event were Liu Jun, president of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China; Zhang Yunming, vice minister of MIIT; Fan Yun, deputy editor-in-chief of CMG; Gao Dongsheng, chief economist of MIIT; Su Bo, deputy director of the National Manufacturing Strategy Advisory Committee; Zhou Kaiquan, general manager of China National Machinery Industry Corporation; and Guo Bin, general manager of Ansteel Group.

Under the agreement, MIIT and CMG will establish strategic cooperation in areas including integrated media development and international communication.

By leveraging their respective strengths, the two sides aim to jointly produce flagship programs that tell China's industrial story and showcase, to both domestic and international audiences, the country's breakthrough achievements and landmark outcomes in advancing new industrialization.

Shen said the program highlights the contemporary relevance of the craftsmanship spirit cultivated over thousands of years in Chinese civilization, while unpacking the cultural roots behind the rapid growth of new quality productive forces.

By delving into Kaogongji – described as a "gene bank" of China's industrial civilization – the program tells the story of the country's industrial development in the new era.

Multilingual international editions will also be launched to present the unique appeal of China's industrial civilization to global audiences and promote exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations.

Li noted that MIIT will continue to work closely with CMG and other stakeholders, taking the high-quality production of the program's second season as a new starting point.

The upcoming season will offer a more layered and dynamic panoramic view of the country's industries in the new era, while promoting the spirit of scientists, entrepreneurs and craftsmen.

Since its premiere on July 27, 2025, the program has been broadcast across multiple platforms including CCTV-1, the Yangshipin app and CCTV.com, drawing widespread attention.

So far, the program's first season has generated 5.04 billion online views and exposures combined, while related topics on Chinese social media platform Weibo have garnered more than 1.63 billion views.

The compilation and publication of a book series derived from the program were also launched on the same day.

Through a "culture plus technology" lens that links ancient wisdom with modern innovation, the book series seeks to highlight the scientific thinking and forward-looking vision embodied in early Chinese ingenuity, inspire interest in scientific exploration, foster national pride and provide sustained cultural momentum for new industrialization.