Sri Lankan Journalists Complete 10-Day Study Tour of Yunnan, Highlighting China's Development and Regional Ties

A delegation of 20 senior journalists from more than 10 Sri Lankan media outlets concluded a 10-day study tour of Yunnan Province in southwest China on Thursday. Hosted by the Academy of Contemporary China and World Studies, the program provided the journalists with firsthand exposure to China's development initiatives and its growing cooperation with South Asia through visits to key economic, agricultural, and cultural sites.

The delegation's itinerary encompassed the 10th China-South Asia Expo, coffee plantations, Pu'er tea gardens, a grain logistics industrial park, and ancient ethnic minority villages. The program combined site visits with interviews, lectures, and exchanges designed to deepen understanding of Chinese modernization, ecological conservation practices, and rural revitalization efforts. Li Yafang, president of the Academy of Contemporary China and World Studies, outlined the program's objectives: enabling journalists to serve as accurate recorders of China's development story, disseminators of mutually beneficial China-Sri Lanka cooperation, and promoters of cross-civilizational learning based on direct experience.

Mothilal Hissella, director of the international exchange department at Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation and head of the delegation, emphasized the program's value in helping journalists gain deeper understanding of the Chinese people. Several participants highlighted their impressions during the tour. Fathima Thahir, news anchor with Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation, expressed enthusiasm for sharing Chinese tea culture with audiences in Sri Lanka, while Dileepa Hennayake from TV Derana noted his appreciation for China's ability to balance cultural preservation with technological advancement. Hennayake, on his fifth visit to China, stated he gathered substantial material for broadcasts back home.

Buwanaka Perera, a journalist with Sunday Observer who has visited China more than 20 times, remarked that the extended duration of this tour allowed for deeper engagement with Yunnan and China broadly. Perera emphasized the importance of experiencing China directly before forming conclusions, stating: "We should try to see China for what it is. Put your feet on the ground, experience China, and then make your conclusion about China." Participants expressed strong interest in future similar exchange programs, with one journalist suggesting that such initiatives should be expanded to include media delegations from other developing nations.