Acting Saudi Minister of Media Dr. Majid Al-Qasabi stressed that Arab countries view China as a reliable international partner in achieving global development goals in all fields, including the media.
He stressed that the Arab countries have a holistic view of the Belt and Road Initiative that is not limited to economics, as it lays the groundwork for political, cultural and social partnerships.
Al-Qasabi, who currently heads the Council of Arab Information Ministers, made the statement during the fourth session of the Arab Chinese Cooperation Symposium in the Field of Information, which was held virtually on Tuesday. The event on the media’s responsibility in promoting Arab-Chinese joint development in light of the coronavirus pandemic was organized by the Arab League in coordination with China’s State Council Information Office.
Al-Qasabi also pointed out that the coronavirus pandemic created extraordinary challenges and put countries and institutions under unprecedented pressure to resolve the international crisis. Among the efforts in this regard were the massive contributions made by Saudi Arabia during its presidency of the work of the G20 this year, as well as those of other member states, most of all China, in coordinating work on the formulation of the policies needed to combat this pandemic.
He explained that global media, in turn, confronted challenges during the pandemic due to the spread of rumors and misinformation about the coronavirus, which threatened to undermine the efforts made to raise awareness of the danger of the disease and undercut adherence to precautionary measures.
Al-Qasabi said that official media doubled their efforts. Coordinating with officials in the health sector, it disseminated accurate information about the virus, ways to contain and avoid it, and how to address rumors and misinformation about the it.
