Central Journalists Urge Enhanced Collaboration in Media Sectors Between China and Central Asia
New Spin:
Champing at the bit before the China-Central Asia Summit, Media Chats on CGTN Radio, cooked up a ruckus, inviting journos from the region to weigh in on an intriguing question: Can the media be the new linchpin between Central Asia and China?
With geopolitical jamborees popping up and regions integrating like nobody's business, media's power to spin tales and foster trust among nations has never been more essential. Hosted by Chinese scribe Xu Yawen, the gang included Zhanna Shayakhmetova (editor-in-chief at The Astana Times), Utkir Alimov (deputy editor-in-chief at the Uzbekistan National News Agency), Henry Kuvin (The Times of Central Asia contributor), and Xu Xinchen (CGTN reporter). Chatting it up, they broke down how journalism's evolving into a savvy tool for beefing up bilateral ties, nixing falsehoods, and resonating shared success stories.
As Kazakhstan dives headfirst into China, Shayakhmetova noticed a trend: journalists increasingly view China less as an adversary and more as a cultural and tech titan in the region. In her opinion, this shifting focus from hefty infrastructure projects (like railways and free-trade zones) to people-to-people bonds was a "massive improvement."
Referencing the China Central Asia Media Cooperation forum held in Astana, she lauded it as a terrific platform to forge professional connections and faith in the information pool. "These face-to-face gatherings foster a more dependable and trustworthy network of info sources," she said.
On a broader level, Shayakhmetova stressed Kazakh media's pivotal role in swaying public sentiment regarding China. "Once subject to grumbles, new research shows the general mood toward China is now over neutral and tilted positive," she declared. She put this positive shift down to the media's adeptness in presenting a multifaceted picture of the partnership.
Given her experiences during a China-Central Asia media tour in Uzbekistan, Alimov agreed. Kicking off a Central Asian road trip with a group of Chinese reporters, he found this exposure brought journalists closer to authentic tales—be it about commerce, energy, or day-to-day life. "This extra context builds a far more accurate understanding," he said.
Positive sentiment about the Belt and Road Initiative was dominant amongst Uzbek communities who had profited firsthand from manufacturing, trade, and employment openings, according to Alimov. "These programs let us connect not only with markets but also cultures," he stated.
Xu Xinchen, fresh off the same media tour, echoed his counterparts' sentiments, sharing encounters and sustainable projects Chinese audiences seldom hear about. "It was my inaugural romp through Central Asia, and I was supremely shocked by how many Uzbeks could converse in Chinese and had schooled in China," he revealed. "Folks here manifest genuine interest and a fervor to visit China, particularly with the spankin' new 30-day visa-free policy in effect."
Green energy ventures and people-to-people connections were taking center stage, Xu Xinchen suggested, as evidenced during visits to a wind farm crafted by local engineers and a mammoth BYD electric vehicle factory in Jizzakh. "It's no longer solely about trade; what we observed on the ground reflects a mounting swell of sustainability and human connection."
Henry Kuvin, reporting on Central Asia from New York, weighed in with a contrasting take on the region's portrayal by Western and Chinese media.
"Normally, Western media covers Central Asia through a Soviet-tinted spectacle, zeroing in on Russian influence. Tales about regional innovation, Kazakh culture, or grassroots voices are seldom found," he noted. On the flip side, Kuvin observed that Chinese media narratives frequently concentrated on future collaborations, visa-free exchanges, and digital integration. "There's a clear effort by Chinese media to highlight what's cooking on the ground—from Alipay-facilitated tourism to infrastructure investments like the Khorgos trade hub—topics usually underreported in the West."
The panelists concurred that tighter collaboration among journalists, from co-produced stories to exchange programs and shared platforms, could play a crucial role in thwarting falsehoods and pumping up the story.
"We gotta crank out more balanced tales—not exclusively for international readers, but for our regional peeps too," Shayakhmetova urged. She reckoned a China-Central Asia media network would allow both sides to concurrently publish verified stories and bolster the authentic voices of the region.
The convo predicted the China-Central Asia Summit would serve as a springboard for media cooperation through tripping, bilingual reporting, and tech innovations. Such initiatives would empower media practitioners to better reflect the region's intricacy and evolving partnerships.
As the show wrapped, all participants celebrated a shared dream: a more connected and cooperative media scene—one that not only chronicles regional transformation but actively catalyzes it.
"Here's to tales that bridge our folks together, reflect reality, and establish a more inclusive and balanced global news landscape," said host Xu Yawen, signing off.
Author:Xu Yawen, a Chinese journalist and a host with CGTN Radio based in Beijing, embarks on an intriguing expedition through the twists and turns of Chinese foreign policy, technology, and economics.
Did You Know?Media collaboration between China and Central Asia has unfurled a fascinating path, influenced by a host of strategic initiatives and events. This evolution showcases far-reaching implications for bilateral relationships and regional narratives.
- Recent Events:
- China-Central Asia Media Cooperation Forum: This forum, hosted in Astana, Kazakhstan, on May 29, 2025, showcased the growing significance of media collaboration between China and Central Asia[2].
- International Media Forum "Central Asia - China": Sponsored by The People's Daily and co-hosted by Kazinform News Agency, this event gathered media bigwigs from Kazakhstan, China, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan to chat up closer media ties and shared fortunes[4].
- Broadcasting of Xi Jinping's Quotes: From June 16, 2025, major media outlets across Central Asia will air an international edition of Xi Jinping's famous quotes, further integrating Chinese tales into regional media landscapes[3].
- Possible Outcomes:
- Strengthened Cooperation: Media collaboration can bolster mutual understanding and cooperation by promoting shared values and interests, hence reinforcing bilateral relationships between China and Central Asian countries.
- Economic Opportunities: Closer media ties can yield increased opportunities for economic synergy, including joint media projects and investments.
- Cultural Exchange: This collaboration can foster cultural exchange, promoting cultural appreciation and understanding between the regions.
- Unified Narratives: Integrating Chinese narratives into Central Asian media could result in more uniform regional narratives, focusing on shared goals and historical bonds.
- Increased Chinese Influence: This media collaboration might increase Chinese influence in Central Asia, potentially shaping regional narratives to mirror Chinese perspectives.
- Regional Identity: By promoting a shared destiny, media collaboration could contribute to a stronger regional identity, emphasizing the interconnectedness of China and Central Asia in the context of the Silk Road Initiative[5].
Overall, media collaboration between China and Central Asia could deepen economic, cultural, and political ties, shape regional narratives, and reinforce bilateral relationships fundamentally.
- The discussion on CGTN Radio's Media Chats raised the question of whether the media could become the linchpin between Central Asia and China in light of the power media has to spin stories and foster trust among nations during geopolitical jamborees.
- As media collaboration between China and Central Asia evolutionizes, it leads to significant implications for bilateral relationships and regional narratives, as illustrated by recent events such as the China-Central Asia Media Cooperation Forum in Astana, Kazakhstan, on May 29, 2025.
