Cooperation between East and West was at the centre of three days of discussions at the Media2020 and RadioAsia Conferences in Beijing.

The events, held simultaneously, brought together over 250 delegates from 35 countries including key representatives from the EBU.

The Media2020 conference was inaugurated last year by Radio Romania as a platform for broadcasters to network and learn from each other’s experiences. This year’s event was hosted by China National Radio (CNR) with support from the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) and addressed the challenge of how broadcasters continue to deliver content across a range of new multimedia platforms.

Addressing the meeting Dr Yan Cheng, Deputy Director of the International Department of the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television (SAPPRFT) for China, told the conference: “No media can do well under the new conditions on its own and that is why it is vital to expand the exchange of ideas and values between countries and regions.”

Representatives of the EBU and ABU committed to continuing to work for mutual benefit along the lines of co-productions, training, exchange of programmes and joint projects.

The EBU also met with several Chinese broadcasting organizations alongside the event. EBU Director of Media Jean Philip De Tender met with CNR to discuss the possibility of the station becoming an Associate Member of the EBU and Head of Institutional Relations Giacomo Mazzone met with China Central Television to discuss increasing cooperation in the fields of training and technical exchanges.

A meeting with SAPPRFT – the government body in charge of audiovisual matters in China – also took place to build on an MOU signed two years ago to develop Europe-China cooperation in the audiovisual sector. The agreement has already resulted in significant achievements such as a coordinated position on the use of spectrum.

The next Media2020 conference will take place in Bucharest in September 2017.