MY first participation in the Asean-China Media Cooperation Programme came in the middle of the fasting month this year in Beijing that showcased China's awareness for future challenges in international affairs together with Asean.
It all started in Beijing, the capital, before moving on to Ningxia in Yinchuan and Chengdu in Sichuan province.
I'd say anytime you visit Beijing, you won't be able to see the whole city that has over 20 million inhabitants unless you stay on for a few months or years.
Even then, there's no guarantee that you will be able to visit every nook and corner of the city, once called Peking, where visiting the Great Wall is one of the must do things here.
Despite this being my third visit in over a decade, I am still amazed by the size of the roads here, easily eight lanes compared to Malaysia's, the design and uniqueness of some buildings here.
The Grand Millennium Hotel was also impressive as a place for the Asean media group to touch base with our hosts and local media counterparts, and main venue for the programme.
Each Asean nation was represented by two to three media reps and it's a good thing that my Malaysian colleague is from a Chinese daily, as he became a spokesperson for me and our friends from Indonesia, Brunei and the rest of the group.
So, thanks a lot brother Chong King Lock, who is a Feature writer for Guan Ming daily.
The most interesting element is that there are plants, trees and colourful flowers dotting most areas in Beijing so kudos to the local landscaping department and this is true in other places that we visited too.
Thumbs up also to the cleanliness and it seems that the smog was no longer an issue.
The media cooperation forum went well where the Asean delegation and China’s reps voiced aspirations for better relations.
We also got to watch China President Xi Jinping giving an address at the Conference for Dialogue of Asian Civilizations and other leaders from Cambodia, Singapore, Greece, Armenia and Sri Lanka who were there to put forth their views.
While the address by Xi and other leaders were given due coverage, the location itself — China National Convention Centre — is impressive as it is situated near the Bird's Nest Stadium, and we managed to catch popular actor Jackie Chan's show there with renowned singer, Andrea Bocelli and performers from other countries.
Then, we went to Ningxia in Yinchuan where the group was introduced to wolf berry, the best-seller product of the area.
We were told that it is a good supplement for men's virility which made it a good enough reason for some in the group to buy them in bulk.
In both Ningxia and Chengdu, we also went to two port authority offices and were shown the train network from China to other locations which generally established to serve the new Silk Road routes.
We were shown how the network links to nearly all areas around the globe, personifying China's planning and ambition to expand and maintain economic expansion and contribute to global prosperity.
The linkages cover many places and geographical points much like the United States' army and its military bases all over the globe — the difference being, China is showcasing its symbol as a trading nation.
We also visited the Ningxia University and newspaper. The university has grown by leaps and bounds since it was established more than five decades ago. Now, it has successfully attracted foreign students and formed cooperation programmes with Malaysian universities.
The newspaper visit revealed that they are also facing the same challenges as their counterparts overseas which is how to keep pace with the technological advances in the digital era.
Then, there's the panda, one of China’s symbol of diplomacy.
The group visited the Chengdu panda conservation facility (Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding) and had a great time looking at the shy animals with thousands of other visitors.
One big factor that one cannot overlook is the presence of at least four interpreters who helped us understand what the officials and hosts were talking about from start to finish.
There was also a visit to a museum on local history while time was given for the Asean media to browse one or two places for souvenirs.
Overall, China's planners and thinkers have come a long way to show the world their country is on the right track, not just economically, and the Asean-China media cooperation programme is another conduit that can help push cooperation to a higher plateau.
A cynic will probably say that such a trip is a kind of PR exercise and to a certain extent this is true. However, a badly planned and managed trip will get you nowhere too and this programme was immaculately executed from day one to the last.
Secondly, China is not the only country doing this. There are quite a few programmes for the media offered by various countries under the guise of explaining issues from their point of view.
I remember participating in a programme sponsored by Thailand many years ago involving visits to areas in southern Thailand thet were wracked by conflict which became an international and regional concern with Bangkok facing criticism over its handling of the separatists.
I enjoyed that trip too as I heard the point of view of the Thais on their approach in dealing with the particular issue.
China has for a long time practiced 'dialogue diplomacy' and continuing the Asean-China Media Cooperation Programme, which has entered its second edition this year, should be encouraged to inculcate better understanding between the various media especially in balancing the pro-Western outlook with our own take on things.
Azman Abdul Hamid is NST foreign editor with nearly three decades of journalistic experience