ANTARA strengthens media cooperation with China ahead of APEC 2026
The Indonesian National News Agency (LKBN) ANTARA participated actively in the Asia-Pacific Media Forum, held in preparation for the 2026 APEC Summit.
“It is noteworthy that ANTARA’s position within the Asia-Pacific Media Forum is highly regarded; participants expressed appreciation for ANTARA’s presence and hope for its further growth, particularly in China,” stated Virgandhi Prayudantoro, Director of News at LKBN ANTARA, during the forum in Shenzhen on Saturday (5/9/2026).
The Asia-Pacific Media Forum was organised in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, by the Chinese government to welcome the city as the host of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit on 18-19 November 2026. The forum was attended by approximately 400 participants from 40 countries and territories, including representatives from 220 mainstream media outlets, think tanks, and related institutions, under the theme “Building the Road to Shared Prosperity for the Asia-Pacific Community: Media Consensus and Action.”
According to Virgandhi, ANTARA’s presence at the forum also aimed to observe the development of mass media, particularly in China, regarding their transformation and adaptation to meet evolving needs.
“This is a vital aspect for ANTARA as we undergo our own transformation, including how to adapt to the development of AI and manage the rapid flow of information while ensuring accuracy and providing the best service for both domestic and international interests,” Virgandhi explained.
In addition to serving as a speaker during the forum’s plenary session, Virgandhi held a separate meeting with the Deputy Director of Xinhua, Xi Yanchun.
“Currently, ANTARA’s news services are available in Indonesian and English, but we hope to launch Mandarin-language services in the future because the demand for news regarding China in Indonesia is quite significant,” Virgandhi said during his meeting with Xi Yanchun.
Virgandhi also expressed appreciation for the Chinese government and noted the popularity of Chinese products among the Indonesian people. He added that Chinese tourists are also interested in Indonesian tourism and culture, presenting further opportunities for bilateral cooperation.
Xi Yanchun noted that Xinhua currently operates 184 overseas offices across seven major regions, with Indonesia situated within the Asia-Pacific region.
“Because Indonesia is very important, we have deployed more personnel there compared to several other countries. That office is also responsible for several other representative offices, demonstrating the great trust we place in Indonesia,” said Xi Yanchun.
Xi also assessed that the relationship between the two nations is growing closer, especially leading up to APEC 2026. “We invite the leadership of ANTARA to attend the APEC Summit 2026 to be held in Shenzhen,” added Xi Yanchun.
During the event, LKBN ANTARA also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Nanfang Media Group, a major Chinese mainstream media outlet headquartered in Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong Province.