BRI journalists call for unity, progress

Journalists in countries and regions involved in the Belt and Road Initiative should work together to reduce misunderstanding and prejudices through objective, fair and truthful reporting, in order to promote global peace, stability and prosperity, media experts said on Saturday.

Nearly 100 leaders from journalist associations and media organizations in 50 countries and regions attended the 2024 Belt and Road Journalists Forum in Chongqing and exchanged views on the theme "Expand the Path of Opportunities, Share a Bright Future".

The forum is among the flagship activities organized by the Belt and Road Journalists Network, an international platform for journalists to engage in exchanges and cooperation.

The All-China Journalists Association initiated the network in partnership with journalist organizations in countries and regions participating in the BRI. This is the first time the event was held outside Beijing since it started in 2017.

He Ping, president of the All-China Journalists Association, said in his speech at the opening ceremony that media organizations need to work together, now more than ever, to promote common progress in today's turbulent world.

"As journalists, we should build new narrative frameworks and modes of expression that transcend ideologies, social systems and levels of development," he said, adding, "We should become active advocates, enthusiastic communicators and strong promoters in building a community with a shared future for mankind."

The forum's participants said that the BRI has already brought benefits to relevant countries and regions, and they will continue to tell the stories of how China and the rest of the world is making progress together.

Vladimir Solovyev, rotating president of the Belt and Road Journalists Network and president of the Russian Union of Journalists, said that media are playing a more significant role in society now, and journalism needs to serve the cause of peace and strengthen the friendship between peoples.

"The network members are not only observers, but also active participants in building a more harmonious and stable world," Solovyev said.

"Journalists in all countries should unite to promote mutual understanding, enhance exchanges and cooperation, reduce misunderstanding and prejudices through objective, fair and truthful reporting, and promote world peace, stability and prosperity," he added.

Ahead of Saturday's forum, the attendees took a four-day tour of Chongqing, a mega city of 32 million people, to learn about its overall development.

The delegates visited major economic and cultural sites, such as the Chongqing International Logistics Hub, the Seres Super Factory, the Dazu Rock Carvings and Wulong Xiannyu Mountain.

Located on the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, Chongqing boasts key geographic advantages as a strategic pivot in national development programs for China's western region. It is also a connecting point for the BRI and the Yangtze River Economic Belt.

Yophiandi Kurniawan, from the Indonesia Cyber Media Network, shared his Chongqing tour experience at the forum.

He said he has visited many Chinese cities before, but was more deeply impressed this time by the local people's preservation of history and tradition, their efforts to achieve food security, and their endeavors in protecting the ecosystem while advancing technological development.

"What I have seen in the past four days has further proved my view that the Chinese government and people are on the right track for progress," he added.