Vice President of China's Xinhua News Agency Long Xinnan (L) presents a gift to Minister of Parliamentary Reform and Mass Media Gayantha Karunathilaka in Colombo, Sri Lanka, June 6, 2016. (Xinhua/Huang Haimin)
COLOMBO, June 7 (Xinhua) -- China's Xinhua news agency is willing to expand cooperation with Sri Lankan media, Vice President of Xinhua Long Xinnan said.
When meeting with Minister of Parliamentary Reform and Mass Media Gayantha Karunathilaka on Monday, Long introduced the cooperation and exchanges between Xinhua and the Sri Lankan media since the Xinhua bureau was launched in Colombo in 1958.
As the official news agency of China, Xinhua hopes to boost cooperation with Sri Lanka's media, through objective, fair and comprehensive news coverage, to futher strengthen understanding and friendship between the two countries and two peoples, so as to promote the China-Sri Lanka strategic partnership, he said.
Xinhua is exploring cooperation fields with the Sri Lankan media organizations, such as joint reporting, special edition or column, and economic information service for the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative as well as social media, Long said.
Minister Karunathilaka said Sri Lanka appreciates the support from China, including Xinhua's help to the local media.
The Sri Lankan government is ready to help facilitate cooperation between Xinhua and the local media, including exchanges of news and economic information, personnel training and exchanges of visits.
On the same day, Long also met with Chairman of Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Kavan Rathnayake and Chairman of Upali Newspapers Nimal Welgama.
Xinhua signed cooperation deals with six Sri Lankan media under the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon.
Vice President of China's Xinhua News Agency Long Xinnan (L) meets with Minister of Parliamentary Reform and Mass Media Gayantha Karunathilaka in Colombo, Sri Lanka, June 6, 2016. (Xinhua/Huang Haimin)
