emirates7 - Abdulla bin Mohammed bin Butti Al Hamed, Chairman of the UAE National Media Office and the UAE Media Council, made a high-level visit to Shanghai, where he met with senior leaders from Shanghai United Media Group (SUMG) and Shanghai Media Group (SMG).
His visit coincided with the Shanghai stop of the BRIDGE Roadshow—a lead-up to the BRIDGE 2025 Summit, set to be held in Abu Dhabi from December 8 to 10, 2025. The summit is the largest gathering of media, cultural, and creative leaders aimed at reimagining global communication.
Al Hamed and the BRIDGE delegation were welcomed by Fang Shizhong, President of SMG, along with senior officials including the Group’s Director of Research & Technology and Head of Digital Platforms. During their tour of SMG’s headquarters, the delegation explored cutting-edge content studios, newsrooms, fact-checking departments, and digital innovation labs.
Al Hamed highlighted China’s key role as a gateway to global media and innovation, underscoring the strategic value of deepening UAE–China cooperation in digital platforms, journalism, and media technologies. He noted that this collaboration aligns with the UAE’s broader ambition to emerge as a leading global media hub.
He also emphasized the strength of UAE–China relations, describing them as a model of mutual respect and collaboration, strongly supported by the UAE’s leadership. He stressed the importance of building bridges across various fields to advance shared goals.
Speaking about the purpose of the visit, Al Hamed said it forms part of the BRIDGE Roadshow’s mission to forge stronger ties with major Chinese media institutions, foster knowledge exchange, and explore collaborative opportunities in digital content creation and artificial intelligence integration.
He concluded by reaffirming the UAE’s belief in the role of purposeful media in raising public awareness, fostering tolerance, and supporting sustainable development. The UAE, he said, seeks to partner with leading global media players to forward-thinking, impactful content that reflects the rapidly evolving digital landscape.
For his part, Fang Shizhong emphasized the enduring strength of China–UAE cultural and media collaboration. He spoke of SMG’s commitment to strengthening international cooperation, especially in light of the rapid convergence of technology and media platforms.
The BRIDGE delegation also visited the headquarters of SUMG, where they were welcomed by its President, Li Yun. The team received a comprehensive overview of SUMG’s digital media services, which have supported newspaper companies since its establishment in 2013 under the Shanghai Municipal Committee.
This visit further supports the goals of the BRIDGE Roadto expand global media partnerships ahead of the 2025 summit, reinforcing the UAE’s dedication to innovation, responsible media, and the adoption of smart technologies in content development.
His visit coincided with the Shanghai stop of the BRIDGE Roadshow—a lead-up to the BRIDGE 2025 Summit, set to be held in Abu Dhabi from December 8 to 10, 2025. The summit is the largest gathering of media, cultural, and creative leaders aimed at reimagining global communication.
Al Hamed and the BRIDGE delegation were welcomed by Fang Shizhong, President of SMG, along with senior officials including the Group’s Director of Research & Technology and Head of Digital Platforms. During their tour of SMG’s headquarters, the delegation explored cutting-edge content studios, newsrooms, fact-checking departments, and digital innovation labs.
Al Hamed highlighted China’s key role as a gateway to global media and innovation, underscoring the strategic value of deepening UAE–China cooperation in digital platforms, journalism, and media technologies. He noted that this collaboration aligns with the UAE’s broader ambition to emerge as a leading global media hub.
He also emphasized the strength of UAE–China relations, describing them as a model of mutual respect and collaboration, strongly supported by the UAE’s leadership. He stressed the importance of building bridges across various fields to advance shared goals.
Speaking about the purpose of the visit, Al Hamed said it forms part of the BRIDGE Roadshow’s mission to forge stronger ties with major Chinese media institutions, foster knowledge exchange, and explore collaborative opportunities in digital content creation and artificial intelligence integration.
He concluded by reaffirming the UAE’s belief in the role of purposeful media in raising public awareness, fostering tolerance, and supporting sustainable development. The UAE, he said, seeks to partner with leading global media players to forward-thinking, impactful content that reflects the rapidly evolving digital landscape.
For his part, Fang Shizhong emphasized the enduring strength of China–UAE cultural and media collaboration. He spoke of SMG’s commitment to strengthening international cooperation, especially in light of the rapid convergence of technology and media platforms.
The BRIDGE delegation also visited the headquarters of SUMG, where they were welcomed by its President, Li Yun. The team received a comprehensive overview of SUMG’s digital media services, which have supported newspaper companies since its establishment in 2013 under the Shanghai Municipal Committee.
This visit further supports the goals of the BRIDGE Roadto expand global media partnerships ahead of the 2025 summit, reinforcing the UAE’s dedication to innovation, responsible media, and the adoption of smart technologies in content development.