Documentary series on Zhongshan and global sister cities makes debut

A documentary series on Zhongshan and its international sister cities was released at a seminar in Zhongshan, southern China's Guangdong province, on Wednesday. 

Liu Dawei, vice president of China International Communications Group (CICG), speaks at a seminar in Zhongshan, Guangdong province, on Jan. 10, 2024. [Photo/CICG]

Liu Dawei, vice president of China International Communications Group (CICG), attended the event and delivered a speech. He said the exchange between sister cities can promote mutual learning among different civilizations and enhance friendship between people of various countries. 

CICG has closely cooperated with Zhongshan, exploring the stories between the city and its international counterparts to help more global audiences better understand the famous historical and cultural city, Liu said.

Liu said that CICG will deepen cooperation with Zhongshan, highlighting the city's unique role in promoting the development of the Greater Bay Area and presenting more compelling stories of China. 

Lin Ruixi, director of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Zhongshan Municipal Committee, speaks at a seminar in Zhongshan, Guangdong province, on Jan. 10, 2024. [Photo/CICG]

Lin Ruixi, director of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Zhongshan Municipal Committee, reflected on the achievements from cooperation between Zhongshan and CICG.

Lin said that the newly released documentary series represents an innovative exploration on enhancing the international communication capacity of the city. He said the series vividly tells the stories between Zhongshan and its global sister cities, such as Honolulu in the U.S. and Burnaby in Canada, in the fields of culture, ecological preservation, and industrial development.

Lin said that these videos will be conducive to burnishing the global image of Zhongshan as a friendly and international city.

In addition, a report on the development of international communication of Zhongshan was unveiled at the event, summarizing the city's innovative practices in connecting with more global audiences and analyzing the opportunities, challenges, and future directions of enhancing the city's international communication capacity.

A roundtable on international sister cities takes place in Zhongshan, Guangdong province, on Jan. 10, 2024. [Photo/CICG]

Representatives from various countries shared their insights at a roundtable discussion during the event. 

Adrian Berzenji, a Canadian vlogger, said that he expects to see more stories of Zhongshan through the perspectives of ordinary people. Liu Qi, co-founder and director of social media group YChina, said that short videos should take on new forms and provide immersive experiences to better connect with audiences.

The documentary series was initiated in July 2023 and completed production in December. It will be displayed through multiple domestic and global internet platforms.