BEIJING, July 10 — Pakistan and China have agreed to expand bilateral cooperation in the media sector by launching joint broadcasting projects and developing a unified narrative to combat fake news and disinformation. The agreement was reached during a high-level meeting between Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Attaullah Tarar, and Cao Shumin, Deputy Head of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Minister and Party Secretary of China’s National Radio and Television Administration (NRTA).
According to Radio Pakistan, the two sides emphasized the need for technical training, institutional collaboration, and the exchange of information between their state broadcasters — particularly China Central Television (CCTV) and Pakistan Television (PTV). These efforts aim to foster credible journalism and promote mutual understanding in an age of increasing digital misinformation.
Tarar reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to transforming this bilateral media cooperation into actionable initiatives. He highlighted the critical role of state-run media organizations — including PTV, Radio Pakistan, and the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) — in communicating China’s development journey, particularly the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), to Pakistani audiences.
He noted that PTV is already contributing to cultural and intellectual ties by airing Chinese documentaries, news reports, and television programs dubbed in Urdu. Additionally, APP’s “China News Service” has reached a key milestone by effectively conveying Pakistan’s perspective to Chinese readers.
The two leaders also discussed boosting people-to-people connections through media exchanges, including proposed exchange visits for digital influencers and content creators. Tarar stated that in the digital era, such initiatives could inject new vitality into Pakistan-China relations by engaging the youth and expanding social media diplomacy.
Cao Shumin reaffirmed China’s trust in Pakistan as a reliable and strategic media partner. She stressed that deepened collaboration between the two countries’ media organizations would enhance mutual respect and understanding, echoing earlier remarks by Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong about broadening cooperation in education, think tanks, youth exchanges, and the film and television industries.
Both sides agreed that strengthening media, cultural, and people-to-people relations will add new dimensions to the historic Pakistan-China friendship. They also committed to implementing a joint strategy to guide future cooperation, rooted in shared values, trust, and the pursuit of regional stability and connectivity.
This renewed focus on media collaboration comes amid increasing concerns from both governments about the spread of disinformation and “digital terrorism.” Pakistan’s military leadership, including ISPR Director General Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, has previously warned that more robust action is needed under the law to counter online propaganda and fake news campaigns.
The meeting marks a significant step in reinforcing the role of media as a bridge between the two nations and as a tool to counter external narratives that threaten to undermine regional peace and development.
