The "Maritime Silk Road Media Innovation and Cooperation Platform" welcomed a new member on August 3 as South signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Talamua Media in the Samoan capital of Apia.
According to the MOU, the two parties will engage in exchanges across five areas — joint reporting, content sharing, coordinated distribution, annual events and commercial collaboration. The signing marks another substantive step forward in deepening media collaboration and people-to-people exchanges between Guangdong and the South Pacific region.
The signing ceremony was a key agenda item of the Guangdong cultural delegation's visit to Samoa and stands as one of the important outcomes of the "2026 Charming China (Guangdong): Lingnan Culture Travels to the South Pacific" programme.
(Representatives of South and Talamua Media sign the MOU)
Deng Hong, head of the Guangdong cultural delegation and deputy director general of the Information Office of the People's Government of Guangdong Province, led the delegation in talks with Angie Kronfeld Polu, managing director of Talamua Media, and her team.
Deng Hong noted that last year marked the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Samoa, ushering in a new phase for the China-Samoa comprehensive strategic partnership. Within this broader framework, friendly exchanges and practical cooperation between Guangdong and Samoa have continued to deepen — landmark projects such as the China-Samoa Friendship Park and the Samoa Arts and Culture Center, both built with Guangdong's assistance, alongside cultural performances by the Huizhou cultural exchange group with Samoan artists, serve as vivid testaments to the growing friendship between the two sides.
He emphasized that media serves as a vital bridge connecting people's hearts. As Samoa's digital media outlet, Talamua Media's influence among local audiences is noteworthy. Deng Hong expressed his hope that Talamua Media and Guangdong's mainstream media outlets would engage in practical collaboration in joint reporting and content sharing, enabling people on both sides to better understand each other and strengthen friendly ties.
Angie Kronfeld Polu warmly welcomed the Guangdong delegation and expressed strong optimism about future cooperation. She noted that Talamua Media has maintained a sustained influence across local online platforms and is keen to leverage this strength to promote cooperation between Samoa and Guangdong in personnel training and cultural exchanges. She also acknowledged China's advanced capabilities in broadcast and content production technology, expressing hope for future collaboration with Guangdong's mainstream media in content production to achieve mutual benefits.
Following the talks, both sides signed the MOU to jointly build the "Maritime Silk Road Media Innovation and Cooperation Platform."
The "Maritime Silk Road Media Innovation and Cooperation Platform" was launched in December 2025 by South, with major media representatives from more than 10 Belt and Road partner countries — including Malaysia, Myanmar, Indonesia, Egypt, Fiji and Vanuatu — joining its inaugural launch.
In October 2026, South will host the second annual joint reporting programme under the platform. Talamua Media will send senior journalists to Guangdong to participate in the joint coverage.
Gerwin Polu, Director of Talamua Media, said that partnering with South on content cooperation presents a valuable opportunity to access first-hand information and offer the people of Samoa an authentic picture of China and Guangdong.
"With limited information, it is difficult to form a true and comprehensive understanding of the world," he said.
"As a media professional, I want to seize this opportunity to work with South, to visit China and to bring back first-hand stories to the people of Samoa."
South is Guangdong's flagship international media platform. Through content production, brand events and international community engagement, South is dedicated to sharing the stories of Guangdong, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, China, and the Global South with the world. It has already reached nearly 20 million overseas users and over 1,000 mainstream media outlets worldwide.
Founded in 1994, Talamua Media is a privately-owned digital media company in Samoa. Its platforms include the Talamua Online news website, renowned for its rapid updates and rich multimedia content and boasting significant influence among Samoan audiences.
The signing of this MOU marks a new chapter in media cooperation between Guangdong and Samoa. Through this platform, the stories of Guangdong and China will reach Samoan audiences via a trusted local outlet; at the same time, Samoan stories will find their way to China and beyond through South's multilingual channels.
Reporter | Huang Xinyi reporting from Samoa
Photo | Guo Hongda
