UAE and China Boost Media Ties Through Shanghai BRIDGE Visit

Abdulla bin Mohammed bin Butti Al Hamed, who is the Chairman of the UAE National Media Office and also heads the UAE Media Council, recently visited Shanghai, China. This visit was part of an important tour for the BRIDGE Roadshow. The purpose of the trip was to build stronger media connections between the UAE and China. The BRIDGE Roadshow is a lead-up event to the big BRIDGE 2025 Summit, which will happen in Abu Dhabi from December 8 to 10, 2025.

Meeting with Major Chinese Media Groups

During the visit, Al Hamed met with top officials from two major Chinese media organisations—Shanghai United Media Group (SUMG) and Shanghai Media Group (SMG). These meetings were held to explore opportunities for working together in media, digital platforms, and advanced technologies.

Focus on the BRIDGE 2025 Summit

This Shanghai visit was one stop on the BRIDGE Roadshow, which is preparing for the BRIDGE 2025 Summit. This summit is expected to be the biggest event for media, culture, and creative content leaders from around the world. It will bring together media decision-makers to discuss how to improve global communication. The summit aims to find better ways to create and share useful content across countries.

Warm Welcome at Shanghai Media Group (SMG)

At SMG, Abdulla Al Hamed and the BRIDGE delegation were welcomed by Fang Shizhong, President of SMG, and other top officials. The team was given a full tour of SMG’s advanced facilities. They visited modern studios for content creation, newsrooms, fact-checking units, and digital labs that use the latest technology.

Importance of China in Global Media

During his visit, Al Hamed shared how important China is when it comes to reaching a large global audience. He said China is a key gateway for media innovation. The UAE wants to work closely with China to grow as a global media hub. Al Hamed believes that by joining forces, both countries can create quality media content that will reach not only West Asia and China but also other parts of the world.

Shared Vision of UAE and China

Al Hamed also said the relationship between the UAE and China is strong and built on respect and shared goals. He added that the UAE’s leadership fully supports these ties and believes in creating strong partnerships in many areas, including media. This support makes it easier to work on joint projects and share media knowledge and tools.

Goals of the Shanghai Visit

The visit to Shanghai was not just about meetings—it was also about action. Al Hamed explained that the visit was part of the larger BRIDGE Roadshow. One of its main goals is to strengthen connections with major Chinese media organisations. The UAE wants to build partnerships that will allow both sides to learn from each other, share resources, and develop content together. This includes using artificial intelligence (AI) and other smart tools in the media field.

Role of Media in Society

Abdulla Al Hamed also spoke about the big role media plays in modern society. He said the UAE sees media as a powerful tool to raise awareness, teach values like tolerance and openness, and support sustainable growth. That’s why the UAE is very serious about building long-term media partnerships with other countries, especially with those that are also focused on responsible and modern content.

Comments from SMG Leadership

Fang Shizhong, the President of SMG, also shared his thoughts during the meeting. He spoke about the long-standing friendship and cooperation between China and the UAE in media and culture. Fang said he hopes this relationship will become even stronger through more innovation and open dialogue. He added that SMG is ready to work with global media partners to keep up with the changes happening in the media world, especially those driven by new technology.

Visit to Shanghai United Media Group (SUMG)

Another important stop during the visit was the headquarters of Shanghai United Media Group (SUMG). There, the BRIDGE delegation was welcomed by Li Yun, the President of SUMG. The team learned how SUMG has been offering advanced digital media services to newspapers and media companies since 2013. SUMG plays a big role in spreading news and information across China using new digital tools.

Support for BRIDGE Roadshow Goals

The visit to SUMG matched the goals of the BRIDGE Roadshow perfectly. It helped strengthen international media ties and gave a clear example of how both countries are working to improve the way media is created and shared. By forming these partnerships now, the UAE is getting ready for an even more successful BRIDGE 2025 Summit in December.

UAE’s Commitment to Innovation and Technology

Throughout the visit, it was clear that the UAE is deeply committed to using new technologies in the media world. The country is focused on responsible content, innovation, and using AI to improve how news and other media are made and delivered. Working with Chinese media organisations helps the UAE take another big step toward being a leader in the digital media space.

Looking Ahead to the BRIDGE Summit 2025

The BRIDGE Summit 2025 will be a major platform for discussions about the future of media, storytelling, and technology. This summit will give media leaders from around the world a place to share ideas, create partnerships, and plan how to use digital tools in better ways. The summit will also focus on connecting East and West through media and culture.

A Vision for the Future

This high-level visit to Shanghai shows the UAE’s clear vision for the future. By creating strong media partnerships with powerful global players like China, the UAE hopes to lead in global communication. The goal is to co-create smart, fair, and future-ready media content that reflects the needs and values of modern societies.