Diverse and objective information is the most vital element in ensuring efficient inter-state interaction. It is the catalyst for growth, including across new, promi-sing areas. Bilateral Belarusian-Chinese partnerships in the media sphere are being successfully implemented via a range of documents, including a cooperative agreement between the Information Ministry of the Republic of Belarus and the Press Secretariat of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China, signed on December 5th, 2005, in Beijing.
This document envisages information sharing and exchange of delegations and journalists, as well as participation in international book trade fairs and media exhibitions, international symposiums and conferences. Provisions of the agreement are worked out in detail in the programme for comprehensive strategic partnership between the Republic of Belarus and the People’s Republic of China for 2014-2018, which envisages Belarus-China interaction in the media sphere.
Major areas of mutual collaboration stipulated in the programme include liaisons in the sphere of TV and radio broadcasting, publication and printing, staff training, and contacts between media editorial offices. In addition, there is mutual participation in international profile exhibitions and trade fairs, conducted both in Belarus and China, as well as translations and publication of works by famous writers and poets from our two states.
We can confidently speak about the success and efficiency of Belarusian-Chinese media co-operation. Close and partnership mutual ties with Chinese colleagues are enjoyed by the Belarusian Telegraph Agency (BelTA), the Natio-nal State TV and Radio Company of the Republic of Belarus, as well as leading holdings of printed media: ‘Sovetskaya Belorussiya’ and Zvyazda Publishing House. Forms of cooperation include regular sharing of materials, joint internships of journalists and participation in profile seminars, conferences, forums and exhibitions.
It should be stressed that Belarusian state media focuses on covering bilateral cooperation between China and Belarus across various spheres, particularly, trade-economic, sci-tech, and humanitarian. Cooperation is also developing between public organizations, with contacts established between the All-China Journalists Association and the Belarusian Union of Journalists.
Delegations from China are regular participants in the Mass Media in Belarus International Specialised Exhibition, the Belarusian International Media Forum and Minsk International Book Trade Fair. Last year, China was an honorary guest at the 22nd Minsk International Book Trade Fair, with its large-scale exposition attracting huge interest among visitors of the Minsk book forum.
Speaking at the Belarusian-Chinese forum of publishers and writers, orga-nised during the 22nd Minsk International Book Trade Fair, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to the Republic of Belarus, H.E. Mr. Cui Qiming, noted that China plans to more actively co-operate with Belarus in the humanitarian sphere.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Head of the State General Administration for Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television, the Vice Commissioner of National Copyright Administration of China, Yan Xiaohong, notes that China views the development of ties with Belarusian book publishers as important and promising.
This year, on April 21st, there was a working meeting between the Information Minister of the Republic of Belarus, Lilia Ananich, and the delegation of the All-China Journalists Association (ACJA), headed by Executive Secretary Zhu Shouchen. The meeting tackled Belarus-China cooperative issues in the sphere of information and printing. The two sides noted the need to further interaction, as part of previously signed agreements, to provide far-reaching bilateral interaction between our mass media, as well as to support important events and processes in Belarus and China.
It’s important to take into account that one of the results of the 22nd Minsk International Book Trade Fair was the signing of a memorandum on cooperation between the Information Ministry of the Republic of Belarus and the State General Administration for Press, Publication, Radio Film and Television of the People’s Republic of China: On Translation and Publication of Classical Literary Works of China and Belarus for 2015-2020. Zvyazda Publishing House is working actively on the Belarusian side, implementing a range of successful publishing projects with Chinese partners.
In 2015 and 2016, Zvyazda Publishing House translated into Belarusian works by China’s Wang Wei (‘Altana Near the Lake’), Ai Qing (‘Aroma of a Secret Forest’) Li Bo (‘Flute’s Gloomy Sounds’) Du Fu (‘Loneliness of Mountain Peaks’) and Li He (‘Song of the Bamboo Flute’) as well as a collection of Chinese poetry, entitled ‘Under the Dragon’s Wings. One Hundred Poets of China’.
The editions, published by Zvyazda Publishing House, promote our Chinese-Belarusian literary and cultural partnership. Works by A I, Wei Wei, Zhu Wening, Lu Min, and Ge Liang (for ‘Neman’ magazine) have been translated into Russian, as has a collection of Chinese poetry (23 authors) translated by Lee Tso (‘Neman’ magazine). Works by Li Bo, Du Fu and Ai Qing (‘Litaratura i Mastatstva’ newspaper) have been released in Belarusian.
Moreover, ‘Polymya’ and ‘Maladosts’ magazines have released a range of materials dedicated to Chinese-Belarusian ties. These include:
• Yulia Oleichenko’s ‘Growing the Ears. Signs: Radiant of China Book Review’ (‘Polymya’ magazine);
• Veronika Karlyukevich’s ‘First Acquaintance with Belarusian Literature in China: Yanka Kupala’s Pipe’ (‘Polymya’ magazine);
• Kirill Metelitsa’s ‘Sovereigns of the Heavenly Empire’ (‘Maladosts’ magazine);
• ‘The Confucius Institute of the Belarusian National Technical University, or Approaches Towards Cooperation with China by One More Step’ (interview with Institute employees) (‘Maladosts’ magazine);
• Victor Germenchuk’s ‘Heart’s Technique’ (‘Maladosts’ magazine).
The Publishing House has also established contacts with the Republican Institute of Chinese Studies named after Confucius, at the Belarusian State University, with which they’re constantly realising joint projects. In 2016, the editorial and publishing institution launched a project online, entitled ‘News from China’, offering stories of life in China. In 2015 and 2016 alone, ‘Litaratura I Mastatstva’ newspaper published over 30 materials dedicated to China. Their authors included Ales Karlyukevich, Tatiana Sivets, Maxim Ladymerov, Mikhail Kenko, Vladimir Goryn, Nikolay Khmelnitsky, Nikolay Berlezh, Alesya Lapitskaya, Marina Veselukha, Arina Kraiko, Maria Voitik, Kastus Ladutko, Yana Yavich and Sergey Shichko.
The Belarusian State TV and Radio Company is also working with China, broadcasting thematic materials and programmes dedicated to developing Belarusian-Chinese collaboration. Belarus International Radio broadcasts for 16 hours weekly, including Chinese language programmes.
Meanwhile, the Information Ministry of the Republic of Belarus presents updated materials on a regular basis, for the Internet site of the Belarusian-Chinese Intergovernmental Committee for Cooperation.
Interaction between our unions of journalists and our editorial staff is dynamic. Last spring, a delegation of the Belarusian Union of Journalists visited China, at the invitation of the All-China Journalists’ Association. This April, du-ring a return visit by the Chinese side, an agreement on cooperation was signed between the journalist organisations of our two countries.
The Chinese-Belarusian media is filled with positive content, targeting the future, for the sake of friendship and creation, and for the benefit of our two states.
