Media leaders and workers from China and Latin American and Caribbean countries put their heads together on Tuesday at a summit to discuss how they could join hands to help facilitate a better, closer and stronger bilateral relationship.

At the first-ever China-Latin America Media Summit held in Chile's capital of Santiago on Tuesday, more than 20 representatives from 80 media outlets in Latin America and Caribbean countries sat with their Chinese counterparts from more than 30 mainstream Chinese media.

They exchanged views and thoughts on a range of common concern issues, from free trade, business development, cultural exchanges and climate change to social inequality, education and women's and children's rights.

Speaking at the summit, Juan Paulo Iglesias, chief editor of Santiago-based The Third, said he would devote his efforts to covering business and trade developments between China and the Latin America.

A journalist since 1999, Iglesias said, "It's very important for people in Latin America to hear more news about Asia, about China.

"The stories, not necessarily all political, can be cultural, human interest stories and side topics," he said, adding there is tremendous room for media on both sides to improve their coverage, to expand the depth and breadth of their stories.

Chinese are extending their interest into the Caribbean and Latin America, given the fact that this is already the third time that President Xi Jinping paid his visit to this part of the world.

"These visits have generated good opportunities and topics for the media to produce stories around the theme of friendship and good relations," said Alejandro Ramos Esquivel, president of Notimex in Mexico, adding his agency has had extensive cooperation with Chinese media over the years, "principally with Xinhua and CCTV in terms of content sharing."

Aside from the extensive range of topics media on both sides can work on, there are many formats and channels through which media outlets can deepen their professional cooperation, Esquivel said.

(China Daily USA 11/23/2016 page7)