By Our Special Corresspondent
Xi’an:Media professionals, government officials, and academics from across the Silk Road region gathered today in Xi’an, China, to participate in the Silk Road Media Exchanges and Cooperation Dialogue. The event, organized as part of the broader Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, aims to enhance media collaboration and foster understanding among countries along the Silk Road.
Hosted at the Xi’an International Convention Center, the dialogue focused on the role of the media in promoting the spirit of the ancient Silk Road, telling stories of people-to-people exchanges, and discussing future media cooperation to deepen mutual learning among nations.
Prominent Speakers Stress Media’s Role in Strengthening Silk Road Ties
The dialogue opened with introductory remarks from Miao Xiaojuan, a representative of Xinhua News Agency, who welcomed the diverse gathering of media leaders and experts. The opening session featured speeches from key officials, including Shan Shuping, Deputy Minister of the Publicity Department of the CPC Shaanxi Provincial Committee, and Wu Jiang, a member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Xi’an Municipal Committee and Minister of the Publicity Department. Their speeches emphasized the media’s responsibility in promoting the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and ensuring that the shared history and culture of Silk Road countries are communicated effectively to global audiences.
Shan Shuping highlighted the significance of international media collaboration to uphold the values of the Silk Road in a modern context. “Media cooperation is essential for strengthening people-to-people bonds and fostering economic and cultural ties across the region. As we promote the Belt and Road Initiative, we must continue to build bridges of understanding through stories that resonate with all communities.”
Session 1: Telling Silk Road Stories and Fulfilling Media Responsibility
The first session, titled “Promote the Spirit of the Silk Road, Fulfill Media Responsibility, and Tell Stories of People-to-People Exchanges along the Silk Road,” brought together high-profile media leaders from across the region to discuss the evolving role of media in shaping the Belt and Road narrative.
Liu Liping, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Reference News, spoke about how media organizations can promote the cultural and historical significance of the Silk Road. “The spirit of the Silk Road has always been one of openness, exchange, and mutual respect. As media professionals, we must ensure that these values are reflected in our reporting,” Liu said.
Zarina Ismailzoda, Deputy Director of the Department of Information and Press at Tajikistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, echoed these sentiments, stressing the importance of collaborative efforts in media to ensure balanced and inclusive reporting on the Belt and Road Initiative. She emphasized that “media cooperation is not just about information dissemination, but also about creating a shared vision of progress for all nations involved.”
Other notable speakers included Kenjaev Ruslan, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Voice of the People in Uzbekistan, who spoke about the vital role media plays in connecting citizens across borders, and Jean Pierre Page, Editor-in-Chief of the magazine Free Thought, who highlighted the need for thoughtful journalism that goes beyond political and economic narratives to focus on cultural exchanges.
Session 2: Strengthening Media Cooperation for the Next Decade
The second session, “Deepen Media Cooperation and Promote Silk Road Media Exchange and Mutual Learning in the Next Decade,” delved into strategies for media collaboration over the coming years. This session focused on the long-term goals of media integration and mutual learning, particularly in the context of technological advancements and the rapid digitization of news platforms.
Panelists, including Wu Yaowu, President of Xi’an International Studies University, and Gulnar Shaimergenova, Director of Kazakhstan’s China Studies Center, shared their insights on how media can play a crucial role in promoting cross-cultural understanding and advancing the goals of the Belt and Road Initiative in the digital age.
Wang Chaowen, Council Member of the China-EU Association, added that sustained collaboration and shared technological resources are critical to ensuring the success of media exchanges in the coming decade. “We must embrace the latest communication tools and technologies to ensure that our media cooperation is effective, timely, and impactful,” Wang said.
Session 3: High-Quality Belt and Road Reporting
The final session, “To be a Qualified Reporter, Participant, and Promoter of High-Quality Belt and Road Cooperation,” centered on the responsibility of journalists in accurately and responsibly covering developments related to the Belt and Road Initiative.
Speakers such as Baktygulov Sheradil, Director of Kyrgyzstan’s National Institute for Strategic Studies, discussed the need for reporters to maintain high standards of professionalism and objectivity when reporting on Belt and Road projects. He emphasized that “journalists have the power to shape public perception of the Belt and Road Initiative. Therefore, it is crucial that we adhere to the highest ethical standards in our work.”
Zoon Ahmed Khan, Research Fellow at Tsinghua University, elaborated on the challenges of covering large-scale infrastructure and development projects across different countries, noting that cultural sensitivity and awareness are key for reporters to accurately represent the impact of such projects on local communities.
Concluding the session, Chen Yi, Deputy Director of the Communication Strategy Research Office at Xinhua News Agency, called on media organizations to deepen their cooperation in areas of reporting and knowledge exchange. “We must remain committed to the principles of truth and transparency, while also encouraging cross-border media exchanges that contribute to mutual learning and understanding.”
The Silk Road Media Exchanges and Cooperation Dialogue provided a platform for thought-provoking discussions on the importance of media in promoting the Belt and Road Initiative and fostering stronger connections among Silk Road nations. With sessions focusing on the role of media in telling the stories of the Silk Road, promoting media responsibility, and enhancing cooperation in the digital age, the event emphasized the collective role that media must play in shaping the future of global communication.
