Foreign journalists laud Belt and Road at international media cooperation forum

The People's Daily International Study Centre launched at the media cooperation forum in Dunhuang is made up of tested journalists from across the globe. Photo: Kimeng Hilton

The 2017 Media Cooperation Forum on Belt and Road hosted by China’s People’s Daily newspaper opened in Dunhuang, China’s northwestern Gansu province on September 19, 2017. Over 460 media journalists are taking part in this year’s one-day event, including more than 160 Chinese journalists, 303 media executives from 126 countries. 

New Belt and Road media institutions

The afternoon session of the media cooperation forum saw the opening of the People’s Daily International Study Centre made up of 10 experienced media practitioners from across the world. The Belt and Road Media Cooperation Centre and Cross-border Joint Reporting Project was also launched. It is equally composed of tested journalists from across the world.

Speakers the opening of the 2017 Media Cooperation Forum on Belt and Road included Chinese government, political, business and media leaders as well as media executives from Africa, Asia, Russia, Europe and Mexico. Zhang Ping, Vice Chairman, Standing Committee of the 12th National People’s Congress, NPC, in his speech said the Belt and Road Initiative has since gained international acknowledgement and is now a concrete plan.

Referring to the Media Cooperation Forum on Belt and Road, he said it has since four years become the largest media gathering in the world. Zhang Ping said the many cooperation deals reached ever since have enhanced communication and exchanges between the world’s media.

Four successful years

Yang Zhenwou, President of People’s Daily, noted that the media forum has successfully held for four years, drawing the most representative global attendance. He said the forum has enhanced understanding and people-to-people exchanges amongst media professionals as 23 MOUs have been signed over the years with various foreign media. Moreover, 3,000 media professionals were invited to China and over 200 seminars and dialogues held all over the world.

Africa, wake up!

Olusegun Adeniyi, Chairman, Editorial Board, Thisday Newspapers of Nigeria was one of the keynote speakers. He said instead of building walls, China has decided to construct bridges of connection to expand an inclusive economic group. According to him, Belt and Road will touch over 60 percent of the world’s population, with its investments open to the whole world. Adeniyi however expressed regret that Africa was not well positioned to take advantage of the initiative, save for some efforts in East Africa. He urged journalists to insist on transparency and accountability in the management of the resources of Belt and Road projects.

People’s Daily can help to break barriers between media, he said. "Chinese people are ingenious, going by the ancient wall paintings and inscriptions in Mogao Grottoes. This shows that there is nothing people cannot achieve if they work together for a common goal. This is the message of the Belt and Road Initiative to the world," Olusegun Adeniyi concluded.

China’s model a lesson to UK

Guy Zitter, Senior Advisor, Daily Mail and General Trust, DMGT of the United Kingdom lauded the idea of Belt and Road, saying it was opposed to the system in his country where politicians do not often want to carry out long-term big infrastructure projects. But the island needs more roads, runways, rail lines, etc, Zitter argued. He blasted the attitude of some British who have made it a duty to vigorously protest and block some major infrastructure projects from going ahead by refusing to quit homes designated for demolition. Ironically, these people are often considered as heroes by the public, Zitter noted.

“The first direct train from China arrived in the UK this year loaded with Chinese goods, taking 16 days, instead of the usual 32 days at sea. The train returned to China filled with British merchandise. There is nothing better than promoting trade as it brings prosperity,” Guy Zitter underscored. He therefore called on China to invest in the United Kingdom, saying those making noise in opposition were in the minority and should not be paid any attention.

Learning from China’s example

Mansour Abo Alazzm, Managing Editor, Al Ahram Newspaper of Egypt said the forum will facilitate better coverage of China back home. Al Ahram is Egypt’s largest newspaper just like People’s Daily is in China, he said. “The media faces stiff competition from social media that produces tonnes of information, but most of it is rumour. People’s Daily can help bridge the information gap between peoples,” Alazzm pointed out.

He said Egyptian media lost credibility and readership after the events of 2011, but the situation is improving now. “Al Ahram has reached agreement with People’s Daily on sharing information and articles. We have also participated in People’s Daily and Belt and Road events recently. We can learn from China’s experience to improve our work. The organization of the Media Cooperation Forum on Belt and Road is a good thing for global security,” Mansour Abo Alazzm noted.

Need for continuous retraining

According to Xavier à Tiati Messe, Managing Editor of L’Anecdote newspaper of Cameroon, the organization of the forum is a good idea because journalists need to continue to retrain. “The media in some of the countries participating in the event has so much experience from which we can learn,” he said. He challenged Africa, especially countries in Central and West Africa, to take advantage of the Belt and Road Initiative for the private sector to also draw benefits. “China is opening up to the world in various ways and Africa needs to make maximum use of all these opportunities,” Xavier Messe counselled.