Who knows Asia better than Asians themselves?

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By CGTN’s The Point

Huang Kunming, head of the publicity department for the Communist Party of China’s Central Committee, has urged Asian media outlets to uphold the call of the era, cooperate more, push for dialogue between nations and spread the voice of Asia.

He made the remarks while delivering a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the Media Leaders Summit for Asia during the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2018 in south China's Hainan Province.

But who relates more to and better reflects Asia-centric stories – Foreign reporters or Asians?

Huang Kunming, head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee. /VCG Photo

"Who knows Asia better but Asians themselves? I don’t think American journalists can understand Asian culture in a couple of years. They don’t get the in-depth of the culture. You have to almost be born with it, drink it and eat it to know it," said Harvey Dzodin, a research fellow at the Center for China and Globalization said during an interview with The Point (@thepointwithlx).

But he acknowledged that the media landscape also needs Western reporters as they tell stories from a different perspective than their Asian counterparts.

Jaime FlorCruz, professor at Peking University and former Beijing bureau chief for CNN, echoed similar sentiments.

"The more, the better. The more diverse the sources of news and information are, the better for our readers and audiences, not just in Asia, but overseas," said FlorCruz. "I think we should have both."

From left to right: Harvey Dzodin, research fellow at the Center for China and Globalization; Zhang Yi, current affairs commentator; Jaime FlorCruz, CNN's former Beijing bureau chief. /CGTN Photo

In regards to media cooperation in telling Asian stories, Zhang Yi, a current affairs commentator and former Xinhuanet journalist, spoke highly of the Asian Media Cooperation Organization (AMCO).

The initiative was first proposed by the Boao Forum for Asia in 2016 to establish an international platform for cooperation between Asian media and media outside the region.

"It’s a very good initiative," said Zhang. "By 2017, there were already 23 media outlets joining this initiative."

She maintained that even though Asian media outlets use different languages, focusing on the big issues at the same time and spreading the same voices do matter.

The Point with Liu Xin is a 30-minute current affairs program on CGTN. It airs weekdays at 9:30 p.m. BJT (1330GMT), with rebroadcasts at 5:30 a.m. (2130GMT) and 10:30 a.m. (0230GMT).