Chairman of the State Information Service (SIS), Ambassador Alaa Youssef, has emphasised the importance of harnessing artificial intelligence to strengthen international media co-operation, promote balanced coverage of global issues and combat misinformation, particularly in relation to the Global South.
Youssef made the remarks on Saturday during the 7th World Media Summit in Beijing, China, held under the theme “Media in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: From Consensus to Action”.
Organised by Xinhua News Agency and the Beijing Municipal Government, the summit brought together around 500 participants from 112 countries, representing nearly 330 media organisations, research institutions, government bodies and international organisations, including the United Nations.
In his address, Youssef congratulated Xinhua on its 95th anniversary and highlighted the historic Egyptian-Chinese relationship, recalling Egypt’s position as the first Arab and African country to recognise the People’s Republic of China in 1956.
He described the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations as a significant milestone, further strengthened by Chinese President Xi Jinping’s official visit to Cairo and his meeting with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.
How AI boosts media
Youssef outlined three key areas where AI could strengthen media co-operation: news production and coverage, translation and publishing, and digital services.
He said AI could enhance both the speed and quality of multimedia content production while preserving editors’ ultimate editorial authority.
AI-powered Arabic-Chinese translation could also expand access to stories from both countries, with professional translators and editors ensuring accuracy and cultural sensitivity.
He added that AI could support digital publishing, archiving and printing services.
Youssef also highlighted Egypt’s ambition to make the Chinese-language content on the State Information Service (SIS) website more accessible through improved search capabilities, personalised recommendations and reliable information, helping to foster greater mutual understanding.
He emphasised the longstanding co-operation between the SIS and Xinhua News Agency, which dates back to the opening of Xinhua’s Cairo bureau in 1956.
He noted that a new memorandum of understanding between the two sides is expected to be signed soon.
On the sidelines of the summit, Youssef presented the President of Xinhua and senior Chinese officials with an SIS commemorative publication marking President Xi Jinping’s visit to Cairo and the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Egypt and China.
