DILI, 12 August 2025 (TATOLI) – Timor-Leste’s National News Agency, TATOLI, I.P held a departure ceremony today for three of its journalists who will travel to China for short-term media training.
Antonio Daciparu and Argentina Cardoso will attend an eight-day program in several Chinese cities, including Sanya, Hainan, Xinglong, and Lingshui.
Organized with the support of China Media Group (CMG), the training will cover topics such as joint media interviews, the “ASEAN Partners” Media Workshop, challenges and opportunities for Global South media in the age of intelligent media, and the application of AI technology in integrated communication. Participants will also tour a digital cultural export community, explore the film, animation, and gaming industries, and take part in marine animal conservation and rescue activities.
Meanwhile, journalist Filomeno Martins will travel to Beijing for a four-month training program at the China International Press Communication Center (CIPCC) from August 17 to December 10, 2025.
With technical and financial support from CIPCC, Martins will receive training in news gathering, reporting, writing, editing, and multimedia production. The program will also focus on digital journalism, artificial intelligence and journalism, and producing high-quality content for multiple platforms, including social media. Site visits to various provinces and cities will provide opportunities to engage with local communities and leaders. Martins will report on China’s socioeconomic, cultural, political, and technological developments during his stay.
TATOLI Board Chairman Noémio Mateus Soares Falcão described the training as a “golden opportunity” to strengthen the agency’s capacity and improve the quality of journalism it delivers to the public.
“I would like to thank CMG and CIPCC for providing such an important opportunity for our journalists to take part in this crucial training,” Falcão said. He encouraged the journalists to “use this opportunity wisely to contribute to Timor-Leste’s development, especially in news production at TATOLI.”
Falcão praised CMG for offering the opportunity for the second time, noting that two TATOLI journalists attended similar training in China last year. “We need such cooperation to continue. We look forward to expanding our partnerships both domestically and internationally to improve human resource capacity,” he added.
CMG’s representative in Timor-Leste, Liu Chang, pledged to maintain cooperation with TATOLI, with the aim of providing more training opportunities for TATOLI’s journalists. He highlighted Timor-Leste’s tourism potential, saying skilled journalists are essential for producing compelling stories on tourism and other key sectors.
The ceremony concluded with the handover of flight tickets to the three journalists. Daciparu and Cardoso will depart on Saturday, August 16, while Martins will fly to Beijing on Sunday, August 17.
In July 2024, TATOLI and CMG signed a Memorandum of Understanding to promote media training and content exchange, focusing mainly on the economy and technological development.
Agreement between China Media Group and TATOLI, I.P
The content of the agreement between China Media Group (CMG) and TATOLI, I.P includes the following:
- Joint production of general content, including but not limited to news, feature programs, documentaries, and drama;
- Cooperation in the field of technology, particularly in media development;
- Staff from both media organizations may participate in training and internship programs;
- Content distribution and market exploration, with a focus on commercial cooperation.
- All cooperation activities will comply with the laws and regulations of each respective country (no aspect of the collaboration will disregard national legal frameworks);
- Terms of reference will be established to anticipate and address any potential disputes;
The objective of the agreement or Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to be signed between TATOLI, I.P and CMG is to serve as a foundation for coordination, planning, and preparation for implementation by both parties, enabling effective collaboration in the agreed areas.
To achieve this objective, on June 14, CMG – through its representatives – initiated a technical meeting with TATOLI to discuss the possibility of signing an MoU, aiming to ensure mutual benefit for both sides.
Subsequently, on June 19, CMG’s Director of Marketing, Tian Daming, along with his team – including Liu Chan, Chief Correspondent of CMG’s Singapore Bureau – met directly with the President of the Board of Chairman of TATOLI, I.P, Manuel Pinto, accompanied by other board members, to discuss and share perspectives on the development of this cooperative initiative.
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Rafael Ximenes de A. Belo
