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Welcome to our second “China-Australia Media Forum. Our first was in 2006, and we hope there will be many more after this.
Our co-organisers – the State Council Information Office of the People’s Republic of China – and Australian News Channel are delighted that you have been able to join us.
I would like to warmly thank:
Vice Minister Qian Xiaoqian of the SCIO as the co-organiser.
The Leaders of Guangdong province, Ms. Lei Yulan , Vice Governor and Mr. Mo Gaoyi, Deputy Director-General of the Publicity Department of Guangdong Provincial CPC Committee and Director-General of Information Office of Guangdong Provincial Government.
The Australian Ambassador to China, Frances Adamson, and her colleagues from the embassy and the High Commission here in Guangzhou.
Ms Kennis Chu from Australian Chinese Capital Investments Ltd.
Our distinguished colleagues from the Chinese and Australian media.
Our guests from the business, trade and academic community.
And of course our hosts at this magnificent venue, the Imperial Springs International Summit.
The central aim of this Forum is to be build understanding between our two nations – and explore the role of the media within our relationship.
Our media plays a critical role in developing healthy trade and business relations.
In Australia, the trade relationship between China and Australia is daily news. The most regular subject is the mining and resources industry.
However, our overall relationship is growing in a way that is much wider and deeper.
This month, the Australian Government released the findings of it 2011 Census, the official survey of the Australian population taken every 5 years.
The Australian newspaper reported that the Census found that nationally, “Mandarin has surpassed Italian to become our most common second language, while Arabic (in third place behind Italian) and Cantonese (fourth) have relegated Greek to fifth spot on the bilingual ladder.
Tourism Research Australia reported this month that visitors to Australia from China are coming in record high numbers.
Clearly, the links between Australia and China will only grow, and become more multi-faceted and sophisticated.
And as this happens, the Australian and Chinese media will be central to building understanding between our nations and our peoples at all levels of discourse - whether it be government-to-government; business-to-business; or person-to-person.
Those of us who are journalists and who work in journalism management take our responsibilities extremely seriously.
In my view, better mutual understanding is created by sharing, co-operating, and exchanging programming and ideas – while maintaining our individuality and independence.
To this end, Sky News (SUGGEST TO USE AUSTRALIAN NEWS CHANNEL – BECAUSE SCIO ADVISED SKY MAKES PEOPLE BELIEVE IT IS MURDOCH CHANNEL) has for the past 5 years been working with State Council Information Office and the leading broadcasting organisations China Central Television and the Shanghai Media Group.
Today, Sky News (same as above) and CCTV exchange programming, including breaking news coverage between Sky News, CCTV News Channel and CCTV 4.
The result is that Sky News (same as above) programming is broadcast into China, while English-language programming from CCTV is broadcast in Australia and New Zealand on Sky News and Australia’s only public affairs channel A-PAC, which is produced under an independent charter by Australian News Channel.
Separately, our Sky News Business Channel has an alliance with the Shanghai Media Group which involves the exchange of business and trade news between Australia and China.
Earlier this month, CCTV signed an agreement with our Australian subscription TV platform colleagues at FOXTEL to carry the international CCTV News channel across Australia. Previously, CCTV News had been on AUSTAR, the regional subscription TV provider acquired by FOXTEL.
Today, Sky News’s highly respected political journalists David Speers and Kieran Gilbert are regular guests on CCTV programs that are broadcast inside China and internationally.
Our relationships are born of mutual respect for what makes us different, and an equal determination to learn from and inform each other.
Sky News has long had an international outlook.
We have international program sharing relationships with other leading news organisations including Sky News UK; C-SPAN in the US; CPAC in Canada; CNN International; Reuters; APTN; ABC America; CBS America; Fox Business News; Dow Jones, Bloomberg, TV3 New Zealand; and TV2 Israel.
We have placed strong emphasis on the relationship with CCTV and the Shanghai Media Group, and we look forward to growing it into the future. (SHALL WE MENTION HERE SOMEHTING LIKE….WE ARE ALSO PLANNING TO DEVELOP THE PRORGRAM CO-OPERATION TO OTHER REGION SUCH GUANGDONG….
Because GD TV will be there too)
Before I close, I must say that I am delighted that we have so many influential, highly regarded leaders in Australian journalism who have made the trip to join us here.
Joining our team from Sky News, we have senior journalists, commentators and editors from Australia’s two leading newspaper groups – News Ltd and Fairfax Media – and capital city news directors and senior journalists from Australia’s three national commercial television networks, channels Seven, Nine and TEN.
To everyone, please enjoy the Forum. We look forward to your participation.
Thank you.