URUMQI - The Chinese news media and its Central Asian counterparts, including Pakistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, have vowed to fulfill the role of news and media in promoting peace and development in their regions.

"The exchange and cooperation in the news and media field is the key promoter for friendly relationships between China and its neighboring countries," Wang Chen, minister of the State Council Information Office, said at the China-Eurasia Expo on Thursday.

Media organizations in China and neighboring countries need to give preference to the development of new media, which can help explore new ways for news and media exchanges and offer alternatives to Western media dominance, Wang said at a forum for ministers of information on Thursday.

"The countries attending the forum, including China, used to compete as the underdog in global information gathering and release, but new media and Internet technology now give us good opportunities to dominate," Wang explained.

With Internet users in China exceeding 485 million, this will "guarantee the rapid development of new media in China".

He also said the mainstream media should remain cautious about online information.

Information released by the means of new media, such as Weibo, a Chinese micro blog service, is different than that of traditional media, with the latter having filters to maintain information accuracy and credibility.

"Rumors and inaccurate information can easily be published on the Internet and may harm economic development and social stability," Wang added.

Pakistan's Federal Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Firdous Ashiq Awan, echoed Wang's remarks and suggested holding similar forums to "deepen the great friendship between the two countries".

Awan also suggested establishing "an integrated media policy" among Pakistan, China, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, and offering more visiting and studying opportunities for media professionals from the four countries.

The expo has attracted more than 1,400 journalists from home and abroad. It is upgraded from the China Urumqi Foreign Economic Relations and Trade Fair, which had been held annually since 1992.

Wang said the forum on news and media is just "a good start" for China's endeavor to promote regional development.

"Following this forum, the Urumqi expo will hold seven forums in different fields. Accurate and comprehensive news coverage on the expo can enhance cooperation in policy, trade, economy and cultural," he said.

"I hope Chinese and Central Asian media organizations can conduct strategic cooperation to increase information mutual trust and help news and information exchange between the two sides," he added.