MOSCOW, October 17./TASS/. A two-week internship for 25 Hainan journalists began on Thursday at TASS. The journalists will get acquainted with the work of key editorial offices and divisions of the agency — the main desk, the editorial board of the Kremlin-government information, international division and the digital block.
The Chinese journalists will also see the work of the press center, TASS training center, and afterwards they will go to St. Petersburg and continue their internship at the agency’s Regional Information Center.
“We are very pleased to welcome such a big delegation from fraternal China here in Moscow,” said TASS Director General Sergei Mikhailov at a press conference at the agency’s headquarters on Tversky Boulevard. “As far as I know, many of you are abroad for the first time, we are especially pleased that this trip to Moscow was a first voyage for you."
According to Mikhailov, the level of Russia-China relations is unprecedented. “This is happening, of course, due to our leaders Mr. Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin's frequent meetings. It is clear that they [the meetings — TASS] are taking place in a very warm and friendly atmosphere,” he added.
TASS director general also emphasized that the visit of such a large-scale delegation as an exchange of experience between the media is unprecedented both for Russian-Chinese relations and the Russian media. "We will share everything that we know, we will not leave anything out, we will not hold anything back. You will get answers to all your questions," said TASS chief.
The exchange
The head of the delegation, director for the Political Studies of the Chinese party's Propaganda Department Li Xiaoguang praised TASS leadership for an opportunity to take an internship at the oldest news agency in Russia. “This year is significant for both Russia and China — 70 years of diplomatic relations. The relations between the two countries are at the peak of their development. As diplomats and historians note, at present, the two states are developing very rapidly, our ties are strengthening annually more and more", he said.
Chinese reporters expect to improve the news transmission and establish a mutual news exchange during the internship. "There are a lot of Hainan Province media representatives present here. It will be a huge step and a breakthrough to new achievements, joint projects, our policy to improve the Hainan specialists, this is a new step in the future of our cooperation, and we are very happy to be here," the official pointed out.
Marat Abdulkhatin, First Deputy Chief Editor at TASS, called the arrival of journalists a big event. “Our agency's best staff are at your disposal for lectures. And this is a good opportunity not only to learn from each other, but also to know each other better. This is one of the most important tasks of the internship,” he said.
The internship is carried out as part of TASS cooperation agreement with the Hainan Province. Special project dubbed Captivating Hainan — the land of promise was launched as part of the agreement.