Al Jazeera signs a partnership with China Intercontinental Communication Center (CICC)

Al Jazeera Media Network has signed a cooperation agreement with The China Intercontinental Communication Center (CICC). The agreement covers the areas of media exchange, co-production and the broadcast of documentary on Al Jazeera documentary channel and co- production with Al Jazeera Mubasher channel.

The memorandum was signed by Abdullah AlNajjar, Al Jazeera’s Executive Director of Global Brand and Communications, and Jing Shuiqing, Vice President of China Intercontinental Communication Center, in the presence of H.E. Li Chen, the Chinese Ambassador to State of Qatar, Ahmed Mahfouz, Managing Director of Al Jazeera Documentary Channel, Dr. Yaser Bishr, Executive Director, Digital Division, Al Jazeera Media Network and a number of Al Jazeera’s senior management.

On signing the agreement, Abdullah AlNajjar stated that “The agreement with CICC is part of the network's strategy to strengthen cooperation with international media organizations in order to further develop documentary content offered to viewers. I’m excited by this agreement and I look forward to opening new horizons for cooperation with Chinese companies and institutions working in the field of media production, and opening a window into new partnerships and mutual endeavors”.

Jing Shuiqing, Vice President of China Intercontinental Communication Center (CICC), said that the weekly program USilk launched jointly by the two parties is a showcase for the presentation of documentaries. It tells the story of real people and their lives showing the multi-cultural nature of human society, while revealing common feelings and pursuits, and as a a record of mankind's cultural heritage. In the future, it will present more fascinating stories of the Silk Road. CICC hopes that both parties will share the advantages of their resources, establish a collaboration platform, explore the cultural significance of the Silk Road in greater depth, promote the classical beauty of the outstanding culture of the Silk Road through the power of real images, and continue to extend their cooperation in media and other domains.

Ahmed Mahfouz, managing director of Al Jazeera documentary channel, said, “I am delighted that our channel will be the first beneficiary of this agreement with the China Intercontinental Communication Center. We are now glad to announce the launch of a series of 52 episodes of USilk programming, which conveys the image of Chinese society, and its rich culture and ethnic diversity. The first episode of the series will be aired on Wednesday, February 6. We hope that this agreement enables us to produce other films and documentaries that contribute to building cultural and media bridges between people.”

The agreement allows for cooperation between the two parties in the fields of programme and television production, in addition to cooperation in the distribution and marketing of mutually produced media content.