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 5th 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 “Bridging the Gaps in Understanding between China and the United States”.
A delegation of five senior U.S. journalists visited Beijing, Ningxia and Hong Kong from 14 – 25 September 2014 while five Chinese journalists visited Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Washington D.C. in the U.S. during the same period. After their respective study tours, all Chinese and American journalists met in Washington D.C. 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:
– Ms. Diane BARTZ, Reporter, Reuters News Agency, Washington DC
– Ms. Rebecca DAVIS, Senior Video Producer, NBC News, New York
– Mr. Marc STEWART, Reporter/Substitute Anchor, KMGH-TV ABC 7 News, Denver
– Mr. Stephen STROMBERG, Editorial Writer, The Washington Post, Washington DC
– Mr. Alexander TRAVELLI, Asia Online Editor, The Economist, New Delhi, India
Organizations visited:
Beijing
– Ministry of Foreign Affairs
– National Development and Reform Commission
– HKSAR Government Office in Beijing
– The People’s Bank of China
– China Investment Corporation
– China Chamber of International Commerce
– School of Journalism and Communication, Tsinghua University
– Nature Conservancy Beijing Office
– China Daily
Meeting with Department of North America and Oceania, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ningxia
– The People’s Government of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region
– Yuehaiwan Central Business District
– Lingwu Cashmere Industry Park
– Ningxia Yuquanying Wine Base
– Najiahu Mosque (Interview Imam in the Mosque)
– Najiahu Village (Visit residents)
– Shuidonggou Cultural Heritage Site
– China Hui Culture Park
– Western Xia Imperial Tombs
Visit to Ningxia Yuquanying Wine Base
Hong Kong
– Mr. Leung Chun-ying, Chief Executive of the HKSAR
– Mr. Tung Chee-hwa, Vice Chairman of Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and first Chief Executive of the HKSAR
– Deputy Commissioner Jiang Yu, Office of Commissioner of the PRC’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in HKSAR
– Acting Consul General Tom Cooney, American Consul-General
– Mr. Jasper Tsang, President of the Legislative Council
– Department of Justice
– Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Ltd
– Hong Kong Monetary Authority
– Urban Renewal Authority
– American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong
– Vision 2047 Foundation
Meeting with Mr. Leung Chun-ying, Chief Executive of the HKSAR
Meeting with Mr. Tung Chee-hwa (3rd right), Vice Chairman of Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and first Chief Executive of the HKSAR
List of Chinese journalists:
– Mr. DU Feijin, Director General, Department of News Coordinating, People’s Daily
– Ms. GAO Xiaohong, Director, Faculty of Journalism and Communication, Communication University of China
– Ms. Yilina, Journalist and Editor, Department of Uyghur Language Broadcasting, China National Radio
– Ms. WAN Majia, Journalist, Radio and Television Station, Qinghai Province
– Ms. ZHAN Liping, producer, “Focus on Today”, Channel 4, China Central Television
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.
On behalf of the Foundation, Executive Committee Chairman Mr. Ronnie Chan (middle) hosting a luncheon where members of the Foundation and guests exchanging views with the delegation on various issues