IFWJ accorded warm welcome to the delegation of Chinese journalists

Indian Federation of Working Journalists (IFWJ) and Chinese Journalists Association has started a new chapter of cooperation and goodwill between the journalists of both countries. A seven-member delegation of Chinese Journalists is currently on a visit to India. The delegation was welcomed on by the Indian Federation of Working Journalist on 25th April 2019 at the MERI College of Delhi. It is one of the well renowned Management Education and Research Institutes of India. MERI College has also opened new state-of-the-art journalism and mass communication department and the IFWJ has agreed to provide them with the experienced journalists to become the part of their faculty.

The delegation was received by the IFWJ Secretary General Parmanand Pandey, Treasurer, Rinku Yadav, its members Dinesh Sharma, former Bureau Chief of the Amrit Bazar Patrika, Varunendra Kathuria, the Chief Editor of A-one news channel, Alkshendra Singh Negi, President of the DUWJ, Mangat Ram Sharma of Dainik Bhaskar, IFWJ office secretary Sribhagwan Bhardwaj and many others. The Chinese delegation was presented mementoes and shawls by the IFWJ.

In her address Ms Wang Deng Mei, the leader of the Chinese journalist’s delegation expressed pleasure and gratitude towards IFWJ in extending them the warm welcome. She said that the journalists of India are respected in China for their courage, boldness and for their spirit to fight for the freedom of speech and expression. She said that the role of the Chinees journalists in the transformation of the country is lauded by all sections of the society of the People’s Republic of China. She underlined the need for having more cooperation between the IFWJ and the Chinees Journalist’s Association. Among those who were the part of the Chinese delegation were Zhang Liang of the Department of Culture and Education, Kang Bing, Vice President of the China Daily, Liao Jiyong of China Radio International and Liu Bing. Ms Wang Deng Mei has extended the invitation to the Indian journalists to visit her country and interact with the journalists, which would be beneficial for both. She said that with the advent of the digital media the cooperation among the journalists of all the South East Asian Countries should be strengthened so that they can move ahead on the path of peace and progress with the much faster pace.

In his welcome address the IFWJ Secretary General Parmanand Pandey said that the India and China are the two oldest civilisations in the world and we must work for strengthening the ties between the by preserving our culture. It must be mentioned here that the paper pulp was invented for the first time in China only. He reciprocated Ms Wang Deng Mei and extended an invitation to a delegation of Chinese journalists to participate in the Annual Conference of the IFWJ. He said that a 25-member delegation of Chinees journalists would be invited every year by the IFWJ.

There was a complete bonhomie among the Indian journalists and the visiting Chinees journalists. Among others who participated in the reception was the President of the Indo-China Friendship Association Mr. R.N. Anil, the Chairman of the MERI Group of Institutions Mr Lalit Aggarwal, the Dr Dilip Kumar, HoD of Journalism of MERI College and Vice-Chairman of Aditya Birla Group Dr Vinod K Verma. A large number of the teaching staff of the MERI College and other senior journalists were also present on the occasion.

The leader of the Chinees delegation Ms Wang Deng Mei was presented a shield by the IFWJ Secretary-General in recognition of her services to journalism in her country. She has been working in a very senior capacity in the largest circulated China Daily. She possesses experience in almost all streams of journalism.

The vote of thanks was proposed by Dr. Juneja of the Indo-China Friendship Association. Hopefully, the relationship between IFWJ and the Chinese Journalists Association will herald a new phase of cooperation between the two countries. It was emphasised by both sides that more than one-third of the population of the globe lives only in these two countries and therefore, the cooperation and harmonies between the two countries will be helpful not only for India and China but for the entire humanity.

(Parmanand Pandey)
Secretary-General, IFWJ