On November 18 (UTC+4), under the guidance of the Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the overseas launch ceremony of the 2024 "Charming Beijing" TV series was held in Dubai. The ceremony was hosted by the Information Office of Beijing Municipality and organized by CRI Online.

The overseas launch ceremony of the 2024 "Charming Beijing" TV series

The "Charming Beijing" TV series is a brand overseas communication project jointly launched by the Information Office of Beijing Municipality and CRI Online, with the aim of enhancing cultural exchanges between China and other countries. Since its inception in 2019, five seasons have been launched. Production teams from 14 countries including Laos, Russia, Italy, Brazil, Germany, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia have been invited to Beijing to conduct interviews and record footage for the co-production and broadcast of the TV series. So far, the first four seasons of the series have been aired on mainstream television channels in more than 10 countries and viewed over 300 million times. A series of themed short videos and graphic content have been released across various websites, including those for video-sharing, as well as overseas social media platforms, garnering nearly 200 million views internationally. The series has gained recognition and popularity among global audiences.

34th anniversary of China-Saudi Arabia diplomatic ties. In September this year, the 2024 ”Charming Beijing” TV series extended special invitations to filming teams from Abu Dhabi TV from the UAE and Al Arabiya TV from Saudi Arabia. Focusing on two themes—"Beijing's Development" and "Beijing's Opportunities"—they filmed in various locations such as Beijing Municipal Administrative Center, ZGC E-Town International Robot Industrial Park, the Temple of Heaven, and the Palace Museum. The two teams experienced the dynamic momentum of Beijing's innovative development from multiple angles, captured the beauty of this ancient capital up close, and appreciated its charm of diversity and vibrancy in a comprehensive manner.

Mohammed Abdulkareem, Host of the UAE's Abu Dhabi TV, delivering a speech

During the themed sharing session, Mohammed Abdulkareem, a host of the UAE's Abu Dhabi TV, said that the experience of traveling to Beijing in September to participate in the filming of the "Charming Beijing" TV series was unforgettable, and he believed that the TV series would convey the beauty of Chinese culture and Chinese people's pragmatic spirit to the people of the UAE and fully demonstrate the image of a modern China.

Hazar Bahbouh, Representative of Saudi Arabia's Al Arabiya TV, delivering a speech

A poetry recitation performance by primary school students from Hamdan Bin Zayed School in the UAE

Wu Xiaohong (C), Member of the Executive Meeting, and Director of the Overseas Communication Center of CRI Online, awards the certificates of co-filming to representatives of the UAE's Abu Dhabi TV and Saudi Arabia's Al Arabiya TV.

Following the launch ceremony, the "Charming Beijing" documentary will be aired on the UAE's Abu Dhabi TV and Saudi Arabia's Al Arabiya TV, targeting audiences across the Arab region. The documentary aims to showcase the diverse charms and rich historical heritage of Beijing as a "City of Opportunities", enhancing the mutual understanding and communication between the peoples of China and the UAE, as well as China and Saudi Arabia.

(Source: CRI Online)