Li Changchun, a senior leader of the Communist Party of China (CPC), met in Beijing with delegates from South Asian countries Thursday, calling on the broadcast institutions in China and South Asia to forge further cooperation.

Exchanges among broadcast institutions are a very important component of cooperation between China and South Asian countries, said Li, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, during a meeting with the delegates who were here to attend a China-South Asia forum on radio and television.

Li said media interactions are necessary to increase mutual understanding and boost common development between the countries.

The forum was attended by delegates from China and seven member countries of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, or SAARC. They shared their thoughts and views on the cooperation and development of media.

The theme of the forum was "Strengthening exchange and cooperation, Promoting common development." More than 30 high-ranking officials from government bodies and senior management personnel from broadcasting organizations in SAARC member countries attended the forum.

(Xinhua News Agency May 14, 2009)