CGTN Europe holds media forum in London

World
Europe

01:18

‍A forum with the theme of "Changing Landscapes: The media, Brexit and China" was organized by CGTN Europe as the Chinese state broadcaster prepares to launch its London operation later this year.

03:06

The event featured a keynote speech by Martin Jacques, author of the book "When China Rules the World." He said the center of the global economy is moving progressively eastward so it is important to engage China in the post-Brexit time.

"We can't rely on the world in the past, we can't rely on our relationship with America as we have. Britain's post-Brexit relationship crucially rests on its relationship with China. If we don't see that opportunity, then we will be in a much more negative situation," he said.

Martin Jacques is the author of the book “When China Rules the World." /CGTN Photo

He was joined by a panel of experts for further discussion on some of the global issues of particular interest to the media.

Among the panelists was former BBC journalist Vivien Marsh, who just completed a PhD paper comparing the English-language news output of Chinese state television with that of BBC World News.

During the forum, a panel of experts discussed the new era of engagement among China, the UK, and Europe. From right to left: Martin Jacques, Yu Jie, Stephen Perry and Vivien Marsh. /CGTN Photo

"There was actually a lot of interest in China, but the further away you get from the UK to put resources into getting stories. What I have found was that quite often China would be done in sections around a summit or some other reasons why China would be reported on. But day-to-day, minute-by-minute was much less likely reported in China, and it is less likely to be treated as a routine as a matter of coverage," she said.

Yu Jie, head of China Foresight at LSE IDEAS, said China is still not easy to be fully understood in the West because it is huge and rapidly changing.

CGTN Controller Jiang Heping attended the forum "Changing Landscapes: The media, Brexit and China" in London on June, 23 2018. /CGTN Photo

"It is the human nature of unknown. People don't know a huge country, to develop a relationship with a country completely different from the Western society. I think that is the human nature of unknown that really makes the British public misunderstands China," she added.

CGTN Europe was under the spotlight at the event as it will open a new production center at Chiswick Park in London later this year. The first programming from the London will focus on global economics whose impact reaches everyone.

More than 100 media and business professionals attended the forum "Changing Landscapes: The media, Brexit and China" in London on June 23, 2018. /CGTN Photo

"It is very important that CGTN should come to Europe, be here in London, where an important centre for developing relations, trade and finance with China. So the more China is going to express itself to the people of Europe, the better for Europe," said Stephen Perry, chairman of the 48 Group Club, a UK organization that has been dedicated to opening up trade and promoting understanding between China and the UK.

CGTN America news anchor Mike Walter shares his experience working with Chinese broadcaster at the forum in London on June 23, 2018. /CGTN Photo

CGTN Europe will join a global operation that includes major production centres in Beijing, Nairobi and Washington DC. Mike Walter, CGTN America news anchor, shared his experience working with the Chinese broadcaster.

"I live in the country with a leader talking about building a wall, and a wall that separates people. But professionally, I work in a broadcast media which is more interesting in building bridges. A bridge between East and West, between countries, between continents, and a bridge of cultures."