Financial Tribune’s parent company Donya-e-Eqtesad Media Group, and China’s Guangzhou Daily Group signed a memorandum of understanding on Monday in Tehran, allowing each side access to the other’s content.
The MoU was signed by Alireza Bakhtiari, managing director of Donya-e-Eqtesad, and Gu Jianqing, chairman of the board of the Chinese group.
Welcoming the Chinese delegation, Bakhtiari briefed them on the history of the privately-run Donya-e-Eqtesad Media Group including Financial Tribune and its stance in providing timely and reliable content to its readers.
He expressed hope that the signing of the MoU would harbinger further cooperation between the two companies and help foster warmer relations between Iran and China.
Jianqing stressed the importance of developing ties between Tehran and Beijing, adding that the media groups can play an integral role in bringing the two countries closer.
“The media can act as a mediator between the peoples of Iran and China, bridging a gap that can lead to enhanced cooperation,” he said. “The meeting today can serve as a first step.”
Moussa Ghaninejad, an economist and senior advisor to Bakhtiari, asked about the reason behind “the low level of Chinese investment in Iran relative to the strong presence of Chinese consumer goods in the country.”
Mao Yuxi, who leads the group’s international news department, attributed the problem to “a false perception of Iran” in his country.
“We seek to paint a different picture,” he added. Jianqing suggested that the two groups could help familiarize the people of each country with those of the other, a notion welcomed by Bakhtiari.
“China is seen as a successful model of economic growth (in Iran), and we hope Chinese investors view entering the Iranian market as a long-term business opportunity,” he said.
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