India, China to enhance media cooperation

India and China have agreed to initiate steps to improve cooperation in the media sector, as part of the 2014 programmes to celebrate ''friendly exchanges'' between the two countries.

Both the countries agreed to proactively consider steps to promote high level media exchanges and facilitation between the two nations, an official release said, adding that the two also agreed to include specific projects / proposals as part of the initiative under the media domain to celebrate ''friendly exchanges.''

Media could play an important role in acting as a bridge for better cooperation between the two countries by highlighting the positive aspects of the bilateral relationship, minister of information and broadcasting Manish Tewari said after a meeting with Cai Ming Zhao, China's minister of state council information office.

The two countries also agreed to explore possible areas of cooperation in the field of capacity building, co-production agreements related to films, sharing of the experience of institutionalising digitisation in the broadcasting sector and enhanced participation in film festivals being held in both countries.

During discussions between the two sides, it was also suggested that the working group should try to identify all possible areas of cooperation between the two countries. It was also agreed that the vibrant media and entertainment industry in both sides allows for sharing of experiences with regard to strategy, policy initiatives, innovation and implementation across different media platforms.

During his interaction, Tewari apprised the Chinese minister of the key initiatives taken by the ministry of information and broadcasting to facilitate policies that promoted growth in the media and entertainment sector despite a slowdown witnessed in this sector across the world.

The Chinese minister apprised Tewari of the critical components that constituted the Chinese media landscape, including the developments related to the new media. He specifically outlined the role of media in fostering people-to-people contact between the two countries thereby acting as a catalyst for a positive relationship in the future.

The Chinese minister is on a visit to India to participate in the first meeting of the India-China Media Forum being held in New Delhi. Both ministers interacted with high level officials from either side.