In an effort to enhance the understanding of China and Hong Kong by American media, since 1996 the Foundation has invited between six to eight American journalists each year to visit China and Hong Kong. The Foundation sponsored and organized their trip. With the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the PRC, the program enables the journalists to meet with senior central government officials in Beijing and local municipal officials in one of the second or third tier cities in China. The Foundation also organizes meetings with key industry and business players, academic and research institutions and media people to broaden the participants’ network other than providing them an overview of the cities they visited. This year, the Foundation, in association with the All-China Journalists Association (ACJA) and the East-West Center organized the third China-U.S. Journalists Exchange program, as an expansion of the original Hong Kong Journalism Fellows program by adding the visit of the China journalists to the U.S. The theme of this year’s program is “China under New Leadership and Its Relations with the US”.
A delegation of five senior U.S. journalists visited Beijing, Yunnan and Hong Kong from 24 November – 5 December 2012 while seven Chinese journalists visited Washington D.C., New York and Chicago in the U.S. during the same period. After their respective study tours, all Chinese and American journalists met in Honolulu to report on their experiences and to exchange opinions on how media coverage of each country can be improved. Through direct dialogue with local authorities and communities in different areas and seeing the developments for themselves, the U.S. journalists gain a better understanding of the current situation and future development of Hong Kong and Mainland China.
List of U.S. journalists:
- Mr. Nathan Bomey, Reporter, Detroit Free Press
- Ms. Autumn Brewington, Op-ed page Editor, The Washington Post
- Ms. Janet Cho, Business Reporter, The Plain Dealer
- Ms. Juliet Lapidos, Staff Editor, The New York Times
- Mr. Tom Waseleski, Editorial Page Editor, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Organizations visited:
Beijing
- Ministry of Commerce
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Ministry of National Defense
- HKSAR Government Office in Beijing
- All-China Journalists Association
- China Institute of International Studies
- School of Law, Tsinghua University
- Bolianshe – a platform for bloggers
- “Included” – a center run by NGO for migrant children
Yunnan
- Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture – Chuxiong City, Zixi Yi Village
- Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture – Weishan Yi and Muslim Autonomous County, Xizhou County, Zhoucheng Town, Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple
Hong Kong
- The Honourable Leung Chun-ying, Chief Executive of the HKSAR
- Mr. C H Tung, Vice Chairman of Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and first Chief Executive of the HKSAR
- Ambassador Stephen Young, American Consul-General
- Mr. Jasper Tsang, President of the Legislative Council
- Central Policy Unit
- Department of Justice
- Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Ltd
- Hong Kong Monetary Authority
- West Kowloon Cultural District Authority
- Urban Renewal Authority
- American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong
List of Chinese journalists
- Mr. Sun Lin, Editor-in-Chief, Farmers’ Daily
- Mr. Wang Shibin, Deputy Director of the Reporters Department, PLA Daily
- Mr. Gao Fuyuan, Senior Editor, China Reform Daily
- Ms. Zhang Zhixin, Senior Editor, Hebei Daily
- Ms. Li Xuemei, Director of Social News Department, Beijing Daily
- Mr. Dawa Ciren, Director of Chinese Editorial Department, Tibet Daily
- Ms. Hu Xiaoli, Principal Anchor, Radio and Television Shanghai
During their visit in the U.S., the Chinese journalists met with government officials, think tanks, community and business leaders, educators, local journalists, and others to gain insight on diverse issues and to understand more about the general views from the U.S. interlocutors on the relationship between China and the U.S.
The Foundation’s Council Member Dr. Gerald Chow (front row, 2nd right) hosting a welcome dinner for the delegation in Beijing
Mr. Shen Danyang, Spokesman of Ministry of Commerce receiving the delegation
Visit to Ministry of National Defense
Visit to Zixi Yi Village
Meeting with the Chief Executive Mr. Leung Chun-ying (3rd right)
Mr. C H Tung (middle), Vice Chairman of Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and first former Chief Executive of HKSAR hosted a luncheon for the delegation
Journalists from the U.S. and China met at the East-West Center to report on their experiences during the trip