STORY: Lebanese minister hopes for boosting media collaborations with China
SHOOTING TIME: Nov. 29, 2023
DATELINE: Dec. 2, 2023
LENGTH: 00:01:43
LOCATION: Beirut
CATEGORY: SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): ZIAD MAKARY, Lebanese Information Minister
2. various of China
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): ZIAD MAKARY, Lebanese Information Minister
4. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): ZIAD MAKARY, Lebanese Information Minister

STORYLINE:

Lebanon's Minister of Information, Ziad Makary, expressed hope for bolstering media collaborations with China, in an interview with Xinhua ahead of the World Media Summit (WMS).

The WMS will be held in China's Guangzhou and Kunming on Dec. 2-8.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): ZIAD MAKARY, Lebanese Information Minister
"We have classical cooperation (with China).
We are working on developing this relationship in the media field.
This is very important, and the media has a very crucial role to play in this direction."

Looking ahead, the minister outlined plans to utilize Chinese technology to boost media development.

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): ZIAD MAKARY, Lebanese Information Minister
"We are trying, and I guess we will succeed in getting better ties with China, especially in the new technologies, the new Chinese technologies that will make our official TV and our official radio a more developed platform in this media landscape.
We can talk more about the relation between Lebanon and China, to spread more Chinese culture through our media as much as we can and this will make things better between our two countries hopefully."

Makary also expressed anticipation for the World Media Summit, viewing it as an excellent opportunity to build relationships with Chinese institutions.

SOUNDBITE 3 (English): ZIAD MAKARY, Lebanese Information Minister
"We count a lot on this summit, and I am very happy that I am going. It will be my first time to China. I cannot wait to build relationships with the Chinese institutions, especially in the field of television and radio."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Beirut.
(XHTV)