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 7th 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 six senior U.S. journalists visited Beijing, Zhengzhou and Hong Kong from 17 – 28 September 2016 while five Chinese journalists visited Houston, Texas 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:
– Mr. Jesus Ayala, Producer, ABC News, Glendale, California
– Mr. Jake Heller, Producer and Host, NBC News, New York, New York
– Ms. Liz Jones, Reporter, KUOW Public Radio, Seattle, Washington
– Mr. Don Lee, Economics Reporter, Los Angeles Times (Tribune Washington Bureau), Washington, DC
– Ms. Elizabeth Ralph, Deputy Editor, Politico Magazine, Arlington, Virginia
– Ms. Jessica Schulberg, Foreign Affairs Reporter, Huffington Post, Washington, DC
Organizations visited:
Beijing
– Mr. Zhu Guangyao, Vice Minister, Ministry of Finance
– Ministry of Foreign Affairs
– HKSAR Government Office in Beijing
– China Institute of International Studies
– School of Journalism and Communication, Tsinghua University
– China Central Television
– People’s Daily Online
Meeting with Mr. Zhu Guangyao (4th left), Vice Minister, Ministry of Finance
Zhengzhou
– Mr. Gao Xidong, Vice Governor, The People’s Government of Luohe City
– Shuanghui Group
– Swire Coca-Cola Beverages Luohe Ltd
– Zhengzhou Airport Economy Zone
– Zhengzhou International Hub Development and Construction Co Ltd
– Henan Museum
– Training Base of Warrior Monks Group of Songshan Shaolin Temple
– Shaolin Temple
Visit to a Shaolin Kung Fu training center
Hong Kong
– Mr. Leung Chun-ying, Chief Executive
– Mr. Tung Chee-hwa, Vice Chairman of Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and first Chief Executive of the HKSAR
– Deputy Commissioner Song Ru’an, Office of Commissioner of the PRC’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in HKSAR
– Mr. Kurt Tong, Consul General of American Consulate General
– Dr. David Chung, Under Secretary for Innovation and Technology
– Mr. Wesley Wong, Solicitor General
– Mr. Lau Ming-wai, Chairman of Youth Commission
– Hong Kong Monetary Authority
– American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong
– Vision 2047 Foundation
– Asia Society Hong Kong Center
– Foreign Correspondents’ Club, Hong Kong
Meeting with the Chief Executive Mr. Leung Chun-ying
List of Chinese journalists
– Ms. Wu Qimin, Deputy Director, International News Department, The People’s Daily, Beijing
– Ms. Sun Xiaohui, Deputy Director, China Daily Website, Beijing
– Mr. Li Yanqing, Producer, International Department, Heilongjiang Broadcasting Station, Haerbin, Heilongjiang Province
– Ms. Wang Guanzhi, News Reporter, Shaanxi Broadcasting and TV Station, Xian, Shaanxi Province
– Mr. Huang Baohua, News Anchor & Reporter, Wuhan & TV Station, Wuhan, Hubei Province
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.
Meeting with Mr. Tung Chee-hwa (4th right), Vice Chairman of Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and first Chief Executive of the HKSAR