Senior officials from the Arab states have called for more
Chinese programs to be shown on Arab television, complaining that
Western programs dominate.
Speaking at a high-level China-Arab forum in Beijing recently,
Mohammed Khair Alwadi, Syrian ambassador to China, said that
Chinese culture was underrepresented and books on China were rare
in Arab bookstores and libraries.
Jordanian Minister of Culture Adel Tweisi also said that media
plays a critical role in cultural exchanges between China and the
Arab countries. Film, tourism, literature and philosophy could help
promote contact.
Arabs have little opportunity to watch programs on Chinese
culture, history and economic development, or even to learn about
China's special status in international trade, he added.
However, he highlighted that Western programs, riddled with
violence and crime, dominate air-time on Arab screens.
China Central Television is currently broadcasting an Egyptian
TV series called Arabesque. An official with Egypt's Ministry of
Culture said he expects more Arab programs to be screened in China,
and vice versa.
China and nations belonging to the League of Arab States on
Saturday jointly launched a three-week Arabic arts festival in
China to mark the 50th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic
relations and to boost cooperative ties.
(Xinhua News Agency June 26, 2006)