Forum held to promote cooperation between China, Central Asia news agencies-Xinhua

President of Xinhua News Agency Fu Hua presides over the China-Central Asia News Agency Forum in Astana, Kazakhstan, June 22, 2025. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)

ASTANA, June 22 (Xinhua) — The China-Central Asia News Agency Forum was held Sunday in Astana, Kazakhstan, featuring discussions on media cooperation and the adoption of a consensus.

As one of the outcomes of the recently concluded second China-Central Asia Summit, the forum was initiated and hosted by Xinhua News Agency. It was attended by heads of media outlets from five Central Asian countries, namely, Kazakhstan President’s TV and Radio Complex, Kabar News Agency of Kyrgyzstan, Khovar News Agency of Tajikistan, Media Turkmen News Agency and Uzbekistan National News Agency.

Presiding over the forum, Fu Hua, president of Xinhua News Agency, noted that under the joint guidance of Chinese President Xi Jinping and the leaders of Central Asian countries, China-Central Asia exchanges and cooperation are embracing a new and significant historical opportunity, showing a promising future.

Fu said the news agencies of the six countries have the responsibility and obligation to promote the China-Central Asia Spirit, advocate for high-quality development of regional cooperation, and tell the story of China-Central Asia cooperation well.

He called on enhancing people-to-people and cultural exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations, advancing media technology innovation and collaboration, and deepening communication among news agencies to contribute to building a China-Central Asia community with a shared future.

Leaders of the Central Asian news agencies highly praised the forum for its important role in enhancing mutual understanding and strengthening cooperation. They expressed their willingness to continue deepening exchanges and collaboration with Chinese media, including Xinhua, jointly promote the China-Central Asia Spirit, and contribute to promoting mutual learning among civilizations and achieving shared development.

Raushan Kazhibayeva, director of the Kazakhstan President’s TV and Radio Complex, noted the successful convening of the second China-Central Asia Summit has pointed the way for the development of relations between Central Asian countries and China. She said the forum vividly reflects the good-neighborly friendship and deep ties between Central Asia and China, and called on the media to support and promote the implementation of summit outcomes in the information field.

Mederbek Shermetaliev, director of the Kabar News Agency of Kyrgyzstan, said that the Belt and Road Initiative has opened new prospects for win-win cooperation between China and Central Asia. Strengthened information exchange and cooperation among all parties will help present an objective, truthful, and multidimensional image of the Central Asian countries and China, he added.

Underlining fruitful outcome of China-Central Asia media cooperation, Subhiddin Shamsiddinzoda, director of Tajikistan’s Khovar News Agency, said continued in-depth exchanges are expected on topics such as cultivating media talent, enhancing partnerships of universities and developing the creative industry.

Bekdurdy Amansaryev, general director of Media Turkmen News Agency, said that all parties should set an example in establishing an information partnership based on mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit. Noting that new technologies have expanded the space for media cooperation, he expected to strengthen collaboration in new media and promote digital transformation.

Abdusaid Kuchimov, director general of the Uzbekistan National News Agency, highlighted media’s important role in strengthening bilateral and multilateral cooperation between Central Asian countries and China. The gathering of Central Asian and Chinese media partners for close cooperation is significant for jointly addressing challenges, he added.

The participants said that in today’s world, which is marked by intertwined turmoil and rampant disinformation, Chinese and Central Asian media should stand closely united and intensify cooperation in areas such as news exchange, content dissemination, and technological innovation to foster a positive public opinion environment for regional peace and development.

The forum concluded with the adoption of the Astana Consensus of the China-Central Asia News Agency Forum. ■

President of Xinhua News Agency Fu Hua attends the China-Central Asia News Agency Forum in Astana, Kazakhstan, June 22, 2025.