Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli advocates media of common destiny

In the face of many challenges gripping the world today, China has proposed the building of media of common destiny and community of common destiny as solution. Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli addressed over 460 Chinese and foreign media practitioners on September 21, 2017 in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Zhang Gaoli is also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China, CPC.

Friends of China

The assembled journalists took part in the Belt and Road international media cooperation forum and the second Silk Road international cultural expo in Dunhuang City, China’s northwestern Gansu province from September 18-20, 2017.

Zhang Gaoli recalled that Chinese President Xi Jinping in autumn 2013 proposed the Belt and Road Initiative, and ever since, it has been a huge success. “Everyone who took part in the Dunhuang media forum is a friend of China. Openness and inclusiveness are part of the spirit of Belt and Road,” he explained.

Road of peace, cooperation

While commending People’s Daily newspaper for organizing the media forum, the Vice Premier described the Belt and Road Initiative as a road of peace, cooperation, openness and prosperity that is recognized by the international community. “Whatever happens to China’s economy has a huge impact on the rest of the world,” he stated.

Steady economic growth

Talking about China’s development in the first half of 2017, Vice Premier Zhang said the authorities opted for steady economic growth and are witnessing the results today. GDP growth stood at 6.9 per cent in the first six months of this year, better than expected, he noted. “Those doubting our figures can visit other places in China to find out the reality for themselves,” the Vice Premier advised.

7.5 million jobs created

“We have achieved economic restructuring and the economy is growing at fast pace. This year, 8 million university students will complete their studies. Some 7.5 million jobs were added from January to June 2017,” he announced. Zhang Gaoli promised that the over 40 million poor people in the country will be brought out of their predicament by 2020, adding that those still remaining will be offered social security to enable them live better lives.

Surging GDP

He recalled that China’s Gross Domestic Product in 1978 was only 300 million RMB, but today, it is 74.4 trillion RMB. After announcing that next year’s Belt and Road media cooperation forum will hold in Bo’ao in Hainan province, Zhang proposed that organizers should keep changing the venue every year to enable foreign journalists discover more of China.

Earlier, 9 keynote speakers at the Belt and Road international media cooperation forum in Dunhuang took the floor to comment on the conference and the Belt and Road Initiative. Vasily Pushkov, Head of International Projects Centre, Sputnik News Agency, Russia, paid tribute to China for its stable and sustainable development, saying the Belt and Road Initiative, which was launched four years ago, is progressing well.

Ireland eyes Belt and Road

Stephen Rae, Group Editor-in-Chief, Independent News and Media, Ireland, said his country is looking at Belt and Road with interest. He disclosed that direct flights from Dublin, Ireland to Hong Kong, will soon start. Masood Malik, Managing Director, Associated Press of Pakistan Corporation, predicted that Belt and Road will bring great changes to the world like alleviating poverty and unemployment. He urged journalists to support the initiative.

Otis Bilodeau, Senior Executive Editor, Bloomberg News Asia Pacific, said the media cooperation forum was a good chance to advance the cause of the Belt and Road Initiative which he described as “one of the most important drives in the world today.”

Africa needs Belt and Road most!

According to Olusegun Adeniyi, Chairman, Editorial Board, Thisday Newspapers of Nigeria, Africa needs Belt and Road most for its infrastructure development. He admitted that for all his years in journalism, he has never seen anything like the cutting edge technology at People’s Daily newspaper. “China has proven that it can achieve anything,” Adeniyi underscored.

More UK-China trade, please!

Guy Zitter, Senior Advisor, Daily Mail and General Trust, UK, described himself as a huge fan of the Belt and Road Initiative, saying he believes it will generate prosperity and enhance trade. “The UK wants more trade with China. Belt and Road is mutually beneficial,” Zitter said. Mansour Abo Alazzm, Managing Editor, Al-Ahram Newspaper, Egypt, said journalists learnt a lot from each other at the media forum and also about latest developments in China.

“China has changed our lives”

“It would be fair to say that China has changed our lives and destinies. China will soon hold the 19th CPC congress, which is another opportunity to learn from the country,” Alazzm pointed out. Lee Huay Leng, Head of Chinese Media Group, Singapore Press Holdings Ltd, said it was useful being in China to feel the pace of development. She congratulated China for a well-organised media forum that brought together people from different parts of the world.

Awaiting dividends

Democratic Republic of Congo-born Catherine Bakonga, Vice President, Association of Correspondents Accredited to the UN in Geneva, Switzerland, said participants had a wonderful time at the media forum in Dunhuang. “I hope Belt and Road will bring tangible results to countries along the ancient Silk Road,” Bakonga noted. She promised to continue to support the initiative, adding: “I am envious of People’s Daily’s cutting edge technology.”

*Kimeng Hilton Ndukong, a contributor to People’s Daily Online, is Sub-Editor for World News with Cameroon Tribune bilingual daily newspaper in Cameroon. He is currently a 2017 China-Africa Press Centre, CAPC fellow.