Airport – Middle East News Agency Board of Directors Chairman and Editor-in-Chief, Alaa Haidar, and Xinhua News Agency Director in the Middle East, Zheng Hu, arrived in Beirut on Sunday, in order to participate in the International Conference organized by the National News Agency. Greeting them at Rafic Hariri’s Airport VIP Lounge was NNA Director, Mrs. Laure Sleiman Saab.
In a word upon arrival, Haidar referred to the Conference as being “very important at this particular time,” stressing the need for “convergence between news agencies, the media and the press, in wake of the huge challenges facing the world at this phase with regards to terrorism, especially in our Arab and Islamic countries and the rest of the Middle East.”
“We are, therefore, required through this media to convey a different image in light of the rising hostility against us in all countries of the world, for there is great fear of Arabs and Muslims in the world; thus, rendering it necessary that we organize such conferences in order to highlight the importance of media in changing our image as Arabs,” emphasized Haidar.
He also pointed out that “the media faces many challenges in the dissemination of facts, with the existence of social networking sites, and these challenges are not limited to the Arab world alone, but rather the entire world.”
“We have to deliver a message about the need for credibility in the news, and this affects many countries,” Haidar underscored.
For his part, Xinhua News Agency Director indicated that he “is very happy to be in Beirut and to participate in this Conference, which will be held over the next two days, and discuss many issues that concern the future and the impact of this media in our lives.”
