Interview: Important to get real picture of Iran, China via media -- Tehran Times CEO

This photo taken on Dec. 3, 2023 shows the opening ceremony of the 5th World Media Summit (WMS) in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province. (Xinhua/Deng Hua)

The fifth World Media Summit hosted by Xinhua provided an effective platform for interpersonal exchanges and mutual understanding among media outlets.

GUANGZHOU, China, Dec. 6 (Xinhua) -- It's important to get a picture of the real Iran and China from main sources through media cooperation, Mohammad Mahdi Rahmati, Tehran Times' CEO told Xinhua in a recent interview at the fifth World Media Summit here.

The summit in the southern Chinese city hosted by Xinhua provided an effective platform for interpersonal exchanges and mutual understanding among media outlets, the CEO said Sunday.

Rahmati voiced his hope to further strengthen cooperation and exchanges, saying "we want to have more interpersonal relations to shape our future."

Speaking of China's development, he said that it's remarkable that "China develops in its own style and by itself" in efforts to achieve modernization.

The Iranian media leader, who had come to China for the first time, said that hi-tech products, like DJI drones and Huawei phones, are popular in Iran and that he is lucky to experience Chinese innovation first-hand this time.

Describing himself as a "bookworm," Rahmati expressed his hope for increased availability of books authored by Chinese in his country so as to provide the Iranian people with opportunities to understand China more directly and comprehensively.

Rahmati also invited representatives from various Chinese industries to visit Iran. "In this way, we can start a fresh, a new relationship," he said.