Monrovia: Chinese Ambassador accredited near Monrovia, Ren Yisheng has underscored the pivotal role of the Media fostering genuine peace and development across the world, especially Liberia with dragnet passed of armed conflict.

The Chinese Diplomat stated that the role of media practitioners in the attainment peace and development is a major catalyst to a more stable Liberia.

Speaking recently at the Awards ceremony of the Press union of Liberia (PUL) at the Paynesville Town hall outside Monrovia, Ren noted that the primary role and responsibility of the media is to support and promote social development.

“Media have such functions as providing information services, undertaking early warning of social conflicts, and supervising public power,” Ambassador Ren stressed.

Ambassador Ren emphasized that to gain credibility, the media must reflect the facts comprehensively, objectively and impartially, avoid inaccurate reports and fake news, as well as disseminate fresh experience, reflect the demands of the people, and promote fairness and justice. The Chinese envoy however, averred that in recent past, some Western media have fabricated a lot of fake news about China and China-Africa cooperation.

Ren hoped that the Liberian media will distinguish right from wrong and avoid being deceived, observing that: “Seeing is believing.”

“We welcome the Liberian journalists to visit China and see all the development and changes with your own eyes,” the Chinese envoy said.

The Chinese Diplomate further alleged that some Western media continue to discredit and attack the “one country, two systems” policy and the National Security Law implemented by the Chinese Central Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), stating that the fact is that before the return of Hong Kong to China, none of the members of the HK Legislative Bureau, the legislature at that time, was nominated by the Hong Kong people, and none of them were elected through democratic procedures.
This indicated that all the Governors were British citizens directly appointed by the British government.

According to Ambassador Ren, after Hong Kong’s return to China in 1997, Hong Kong has held six Legislative Council elections, and four Chief Executives of the SAR have been elected by Hong Kong citizens.

Adding that over the past 20 years after Hong Kong’s return, the riots that have occurred have been implicitly supported by Britain and other Western countries
Ren maintained in his statement that the excuses are always so-called “democracy.”

The Chinese official disclosed that since the National People’s Congress (NPC) passed and promulgated the “National Security Law” in 2020, a small number of criminals who seriously endangered national security have been punished, external forces interfering in Hong Kong affairs have been deterred, and Hong Kong has returned to stability.

He assured the public that China will continue to implement the policy of “one country, two systems” and “Hong Kong patriots governing Hong Kong” to maintain the long-term prosperity and stability of the HKSAR.

In a related development, Ren asserted that recently, BBC, Fox News and some other Western media have fabricated many lies about so-called “genocide” and “forced labor” in China’s Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region.

“The fact is that over the past 6 decades or so, the average life expectancy of Xinjiang has increased from 30 to 72 years. From 2010 to 2018, the Uighur population increased from 10.17115 million to 12.7184 million, an increase of 2.5469 million or 25.04%; the Han population increased from 8.829 million to 9.0068 million, an increase of 176,900 or 2.0%,” Ren noted.

He added that in recent years, Xinjiang has stepped up its efforts in counter-terrorism and de-radicalization, and carried out vocational skills education and training in accordance with the law, so that participating students can master the skills to make a fortune.

The Ambassador said up to date, Xinjiang’s ethnic groups are harmonious, the society is stable, and the economic development speed has been higher than the national average.

He stressed that lies about Xinjiang-related “genocide” and “forced labor” are malicious smears by Western politicians and the media with ulterior motives.

Ren said for some time, some Western media have hyped up China’s aid projects in Africa with so-called “data collection” and cyber-security risks, and China-Africa cooperation has created a “debt trap” in Africa.
“In fact, China has never carried out so-called “data collection” activities through any foreign aid projects, including aid projects in Africa, and many leaders of African countries and the chairman of the African Union Commission have publicly refuted it,” Ren clarified.

He alleged that unlike Western practices, China never attaches any political conditions to its loans and assistance to Africa, stating that his country pays close attention to debt sustainability of recipient countries, and fully respects the will of relevant governments.

Ren pinpointed that by funding infrastructure and other areas where recipient countries are in urgent need of development and have funding gaps, China helps relevant countries overcome development bottlenecks and enhance their hematopoietic function.

“As a result, it promotes sustainable economic and social development and improves local people’s livelihood, which is warmly welcomed by the governments and people of the recipient countries,” Ren maintained.