China envoy wishes IRNA’s success in hosting OANA assembly

Tehran, IRNA - Ambassador of China to Iran Chang Hua has expressed hope for IRNA’s success in hosting the 18th general assembly of the Organization of Asia-Pacific News Agencies. The assembly, which is going to be held by the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) in Tehran this week, is expected to pave the ground for improving the media outlets of the Asia-Pacific region to enhance friendships among nations and stand against joint threats as well as international challenges. The Chinese ambassador wrote in a message to IRNA on Saturday that media is a platform to convey data and promote human interactions, which plays the role of a bridge aimed at boosting unity among nations. At the present time, the whole world nations are witnessing unprecedented developments in the globe and history, which have created unexpected challenges for the human society, he noted. Meanwhile, Asia-Pacific media outlets as the most active region in the world in terms of development should protect sincerity, promote international cooperation and supervise performances of each other in order to publish common values such as peace, development, equality, justice, democracy, and freedom, the diplomat said. He went on to say that the spread of fake news in the world has been increased and that the American and other Western media outlets have been possessing unfairly misused their monopoly to control international discourse and impose their own hegemony. The Western media have propagated false accusations against China via disseminating fake reports on human rights, coronavirus and genocide in order to manipulate public opinion throughout the world, he warned. In such a situation, the positive role of mechanisms such as the Organization of Asia-Pacific News Agencies (OANA) as well the issue of strengthening interactions and sharing stories should be paid heed more than before, he added. The ambassador further urged the OANA members to expand coordination and collaboration in a bid to fill the media gap in the region and help introduce verified news stories. The OANA conference can promote communications and interactions as well as improve increasing friendship among nations in facing global challenges, he mentioned. The Organization of Asia-Pacific News Agencies voted in favor of IRNA's nomination for the presidency at the 17th General Assembly meeting in Seoul, South Korea. The OANA was founded in 1961 with the goal of facilitating information dissemination in the region, supported by the United Nations cultural entity (UNESCO). The organization covering two-thirds of the world population has now 44 members from 35 countries in Asia and Oceania. Iran, as a long-standing member, was the rotating president from 1997 to 2000. Follow us on Twitter @IrnaEnglish