Media Officials and Journalist of Guyana Visit to China
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he eighteen (18) member delegation that attended the 2016 seminar for media officials and journalist of Guyana returned on August 1 after a three (3) weeks in China. Our visit to China revealed country we had only seen on television usually a little village where the inhabitants live in poverty lines (movies like Kung-fu Panda). This is so far from the China we experienced. Those movies never revealed the full magnitude of China’s development, the highways that link all the peoples of China from the most far flung and remote regions to the center, Beijing, provincial airports that could rival many on the international list. It took us three hours to fly from Beijing to Yunnan, one of China’s many provinces and I learnt that it takes about six – seven days to journey by road. What is amazing is that it can actually be done by road. Our visit showed the vastness of this great country. But, again, what we found fascinating was the landscaping that covers every metre of parapet lining every highway and road, the trees, the flowers, especially the roses. As one member of the delegation (Rabindra Rooplall) said, if you are to be stuck in traffic, and Beijing traffic is something to experience, then let there be something beautiful to look at. Beijing has lots of beautiful scenery for persons stuck in traffic. Our capital city Georgetown carries the
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moniker, ‘the Garden City’. Beijing is in a class by itself. Notwithstanding the scenery and distractions at every turn, we, the media officials of Guyana were able to develop an understanding of why China is advancing in the world of communications. Mr. Ambassador, it is clear that your country places the advancement of this sector as one of its top priorities. This is the age of information and communication and the Government of the People’s Republic of China has taken bold initiatives to have propelled the country as a world leader in the field. There is much that the world can learn from China and there is a lot that China can share with the world, especially with Guyana. Globally, traditional media forms are being threatened. Newspaper, radio and television agencies find themselves struggling to hold on to advertisers and their consumers. This is the era of new media where the consumer is the boss and they are determining not only the content they want to receive but also when they want to receive it. It is view on demand. They are also looking for a more interactive experience. China has not only recognized the challenges but, has made the investments necessary to advance to satisfy the demands of the discerning consumer.