China Hoy Magazine celebrates 20 years of presence in Mexico

By CARMEN GONGZÁLEZ

On November 8, a special event was held at the Biblioteca de México to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the magazine’s Latin American branch China Today. The event was attended by Zhang Run, Ambassador of China to Mexico, accompanied by his wife, Mrs. Duan Niyan; José Leyva, director of the Library of Mexico; Alberto Villa, former deputy of the Mexico-China Friendship Group of the Chamber of Deputies; Ambassador Sergio Ley, among other great friends of the publication, such as Mauro Jiménez, José Luis Uribe, Héctor Aguilera, Teodoro Rentería, Nicanor Ramírez and Denisse Morales.

Du Zhanyuan, chairman of the China International Communications Group (CICG), sent a video message in which he congratulated the publication on its 20th anniversary.

“Since its founding, 20 years ago, the Latin American branch of China Today took on the mission of strengthening friendship between China and Mexico, as well as between China and Latin America and the Caribbean. The magazine witnessed and participated in the development of Sino-Mexican and Sino-Latin American relations in the 21st century and friendly exchanges between their peoples, highlighting figures who contributed to the promotion of friendship between China and Latin America and the Caribbean, such as Wu Yongheng, former branch director.” Du Zhanyuan said in his message.

Ambassador Zhang Run congratulated the Latin American branch of China Today for 20 years of experience in Mexico, highlighting that, given the current scenario, it is essential to read and better understand today’s China.

“Since the launch of the Spanish edition in 1960, many Mexicans have become loyal readers of this magazine. Especially in the last 20 years, with the founding of its Latin American branch in Mexico, China Today played an important role in mutual learning between the civilizations of China, Mexico and Latin America,” he said.

The ambassador also highlighted that the publication’s social networks stand out for their innovative content and large number of followers, managing to get closer to the Latin American and Mexican public and cater to the reading habits of the local public.

“President Xi Jinping has stated that all great causes are realized through real efforts. In this sense, I hope that the magazine China Today take its 20th anniversary as a new starting point, continue to share China’s stories and spread its voice, and contribute to mutual learning between China, Mexico and Latin America,” said the ambassador.

On November 8, 2024, Ambassador Zhang Run and his wife pose for a group photo with the Mulan Art Group.

Uniting cultures

José Leyva, director of the Library of Mexico, recalled that five years ago, on the initiative of China Todaya Chinese Book Center was founded in the library.

“Today the Library of Mexico and the Vasconcelos Library have contact with just over 15 embassies, including those of Japan, South Korea, Finland, Italy, Ireland, the Netherlands, among others. This idea of ​​founding the Chinese Book Center has permeated and now many other countries want to share the space. And the one who started this cascade was China”, said Leyva.

Alberto Villa, who was a deputy during the LXIV and LXV legislatures and a member of the China-Mexico Friendship Group of the Chamber of Deputies, said he was a follower of the magazine China Today several years ago.

“Today, Mexico and China have much more in common than many people could imagine. I had the opportunity to get to know China and learned that the distance that separates us and the difference in languages ​​are not a barrier”, commented Villa.

Sergio Ley, who was Mexico’s ambassador to China from November 2001 to January 2007, mentioned that the China Today has established itself as a window through which Spanish-speaking readers can truthfully explore the most diverse topics on history, culture, traditions, social, technological and economic transformations and, in short, the challenges and advances of the People’s Republic of China .

“Since this publication appeared in Spanish in 1960 under the name China Rebuilds and, from 1990 onwards, adopted the current name of China Todaythe magazine has practiced dissemination journalism with responsibility, objectivity, professionalism and a cosmopolitan vocation”, said ambassador Sergio Ley.

He added that “few know that two great Mexican writers resided for a time in Beijing as editors and reviewers of the magazine: Heraclio Zepeda and Sergio Pitol, who, in the early 1970s, worked at China Rebuilds and as Spanish professors at Beijing universities.”

Effort history

In her speech, Li Yafang, general director of the CICG Americas Center, stated that the founding of the Latin American branch of the CICG China Today in 2004 demonstrates the importance that China attaches to relations with Mexico and its optimism for future development between the two countries.

“The media should play a proactive role in promoting the development of friendship between China and Mexico. The Latin American branch will continue to have its headquarters in Mexico and will serve as a bridge to strengthen ties between people on both sides of the Pacific”, assured Li Yafang.

After the guests’ speeches, Li Yafang gave special recognition to Gabriela Cedillo, general manager of the Latin American branch of China Today and founder of the branch in Mexico.

“At that time, we didn’t have an office. The office was my home, our mode of transportation was my car, and the work team was my boss and me. We did everything: distribution, sales, subscriptions”, recalled Cedillo, who highlighted the contribution of the magazine’s founders, such as Charly Wang, and, especially, Wu Yongheng, who raised the status of the Latin American branch to the highest levels, achieving the publication was recognized in government, business and academic circles inside and outside Mexico.

The Chinese Women’s Association in Mexico, chaired by Ms. Yan Suyun, presented a parade of traditional Chinese costumes, held by the Mulan Art Group.

Finally, great friends of the magazine over these 20 years, such as Nicanor Ramírez, subscriber for 56 years, and journalists Mauro Jiménez, director of the magazine Macroeconomy; José Luis Uribe, former president of the journalists club Front page; Héctor Aguilera, president of the Association of Businessmen and Sister Cities, and Teodoro Rentería, president of the National College of Graduates in Journalism, shared their memories as contributors to the magazine China Today.

The event ended with a performance by the lion and dragon dance group from the Chinese community in Mexico.

Translation: Felipe Porto