China Daily and Beijing Foreign Studies University signed an agreement yesterday to form a strategic partnership in a joint effort to train professionals in international communications.

The two sides agreed to work together to nurture young journalists specializing in global communications. The newspaper will host and train potential candidates with solid professional education from the university as the influence of the Chinese press in the international media continues to grow.

China Daily will also introduce week-long forums and promotions at the school in a bid to attract more campus readers in China.

China Daily Editor-in-Chief Zhu Ling said talent pools are important to the global newspaper's efforts to consolidate its identity as an authoritative voice of China and its people.

"We would love to share China Daily's rich journalism resources with elite institutions," Zhu said in an address at the signing ceremony.

"Through a comprehensive partnership we aim to improve education levels in Chinese universities and train more Chinese talent in global communications," he told an audience of about 300 guests.

Hao Ping, president of the university, said China Daily has been "a successful model" among top Chinese media to introduce China to a world readership.

"The partnership between universities and media organizations will provide great opportunities for academic research as well as be a public service," said Hao, who is also China's vice-minister of education.

"With China Daily's experiences and methods in journalism, this partnership will be specifically useful in training prosperous young talent for the profession at this university," he said.

Hao said the agreement signed yesterday is an active response to the national strategy of increasing talents with global communication skills. He encouraged more universities to follow the example and work more closely with elite media organizations in China.

Beijing Foreign Studies University has been the nation's top foreign language institute since its establishment more than six decades ago. Graduates of the university include the country's most senior diplomats and experienced journalists.

Wang Hao, board member of China Daily, and Yang Xueyi, Party secretary of the university, inked the agreement at yesterday's ceremony.

The university officials also offered faculty certificates to the newspaper's senior editors, who will give "China Daily Brand Courses" to the students.

Lecturers of the courses include ex-editor-in-chiefs, senior editors and reporters from major news publications both in China and from overseas.

The courses will include international and national reporting, media management and new media, among others.

China Daily

(China Daily 01/07/2010 page2)