From Sharifah Hunaini Syed Ismail
KUNMING (CHINA), Sept 16 (Bernama) -- The 2025 Media Cooperation Forum on Belt and Road commenced today, bringing together over 200 representatives from 87 countries, international and regional organisations, and 165 media outlets and institutions worldwide.
With the theme “Shared Media Responsibility for Exchanges and Mutual Learning among Civilisations”, the forum features speeches by distinguished guests, keynote addresses, and the launch of the Innovation and Practice in Developing Green Belt and Road.
The event, held in Kunming, southwest China’s Yunnan Province, was jointly hosted by People’s Daily, the Communist Party of China (CPC) Yunnan Provincial Committee, and the People’s Government of Yunnan Province.
Among the eight speakers delivering opening addresses were Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress Zheng Jianbang, People’s Daily China President Yu Shaoliang, China’s Vice Minister of Transport Li Yang, and People’s Daily Editor-in-Chief Chen Jianwen.
Most speakers highlighted the growing media coverage of Belt and Road Initiative success stories by institutions around the world.
They also stressed that the media should act as recorders and storytellers of development achievements, continue to report on Belt and Road cooperation, and help build broad momentum for win-win outcomes.
The media should also engage in and promote mutual learning among civilisations, use quality works to build understanding, bridge divides, and bring people closer together, thereby strengthening the foundation for a community with a shared future for humanity.
Highlights of today’s event included the announcement of the second Silk Road Global News Awards.
The awards, featuring four categories—Best Reporting, Best Photography, Best Video, and Best Innovation—were hosted by the Belt and Road News Network (BRNN) Council and organised by its chair, People’s Daily.
Since its call for submissions in April 2024, the second Silk Road Global News Awards received nearly 5,000 entries from 110 countries and regions.
A total of 58 works from 37 countries were recognised, comprising four grand prizes, 16 nominations, and 38 finalist awards.
The Silk Road Global News Awards are the Belt and Road News Network’s flagship event and the only international journalism awards within the Belt and Road Initiative’s multilateral cooperation framework.
Following the forum, international and local media representatives will carry out joint reporting activities in Yunnan and other provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities across the country.
Since its inception in 2014, the Media Cooperation Forum on Belt and Road has been held nine times.
It has attracted more than 1,000 representatives from media outlets and international and regional organisations in over 100 countries and regions, building broad consensus and momentum for advancing high-quality Belt and Road cooperation.
On Sept 17, the 10+3 Media Cooperation Forum is scheduled to take place under the theme “Increase Inter-connectivity for Common Development and Shared Benefits”.
The programme includes keynote addresses and panel discussions on “Foster New Growth Drivers and Share New Development Opportunities” and “Build Consensus and Enhance People-to-People Bonds in East Asia".
-- BERNAMA
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