'Silk Road spirit' called for among BRI media outlets

A senior Communist Party of China official called on media outlets of all countries involved in the Belt and Road to contribute more to carrying forward the "Silk Road spirit" on Monday.

Li Shulei, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, made the statement during an address via a video link at the Belt and Road News Network Second Council Meeting held in Beijing.

The media is an important force for influencing public opinion and communicating with the people. To compose a new chapter in the high-quality development of the Belt and Road, media organizations of all countries should stick to solidarity and cooperation and make new contributions to the Silk Road spirit, he said.

The Silk Road was an ancient caravan route stretching from China to the Mediterranean that played a crucial role in facilitating economic and cultural exchanges between East and West.

Li said that the media outlets should give priority to development and make new accomplishments in telling stories of the Silk Road and enhancing Silk Road friendship.

Representatives of 38 council members from 23 countries participated in the meeting, online and in-person. They expressed opinions and suggestions on how to better leverage the role of the BRNN and promote people-to-people and cultural exchanges.

The first council meeting of the BRNN was held in Beijing in April 2019 and was composed of 40 media organizations from 25 countries.

As of November 2022, there were 217 media organizations from 101 countries that have joined the BRNN. China's People's Daily currently chairs the council.