Senior officials from Arab states have called for more Chinese programs to be shown on Arab televisions, complaining the dominant diet of Western viewing is obsessed with violence.

 

The Chinese culture was under-represented and books on China were rare in Arab bookstores and libraries, said Mohammed Khair Alwadi, Syrian ambassador in China, at a high-level China-Arab forum in Beijing.

 

Jordanian Minister of Culture Adel Tweisi said the media played a critical role in cultural exchanges between China and Arab countries. Films, tourism, literature and philosophy could help promote contact.

 

Arabs had few opportunities to see programs about the Chinese culture, history and development, or even to learn about China's special status in international trade, Adel Tweisi said.

 

However, Western programs, mostly about violence and crime, rather than those reflecting society and humanity, had occupied Arab screens.

 

He feared such trends would influence Arab youths, who were keen to imitate Western conduct.

 

The China Central Television is currently broadcasting an Egyptian TV series called Arabesque and an official with Egypt's Ministry of Culture said he expects more Arab programs to screen in China, and vice versa.

 

China and nations of the League of Arab States on Saturday jointly launched a three-week Arabic arts festival in China to mark the 50th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations and boost their cooperative ties.

 

(Xinhua News Agency June 26, 2006)