Conference held on international internet communication

On July 23, the inaugural "Hello, Silk Road" International Conference on Internet Communication was launched in Karamay city, Northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. Gathering over 200 experts, scholars, journalists, and online influencers from countries such as China, Kyrgyzstan, Bangladesh, Thailand, Turkey, Vietnam, and Colombia, the event envisioned the international communication cooperation between China and countries along the "Belt and Road".

In his speech, Wang Jianxin, head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Xinjiang Regional Committee, extended a warm invitation to both domestic and international media professionals and online influencers to visit and experience the remarkable region and its culture.

Mederbek Shermataliev, proprietor of Kyrgyzstan’s Cabal News Agency, pointed out in his speech that under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the development prospects of Central Asian countries are promising. He emphasized the importance of the media widely and comprehensively conveying to the general public the purpose and goals of establishing high-level strategic partnerships between China and Central Asian countries.

In his video message, Ambassador of Argentina to China Gustavo Sabino Vaca Narvaja stressed the need to exclude external interference, focus on cooperation and mutual benefits, and promote in-depth communication and exchanges.

Dialogues and exchanges under the themes of "International Communication and Value Shaping" and "Envoys of Cultural Exchanges and Co-Creating Prosperity" were held, in which participants shared their experiences and insights. They also explored in-depth the challenges faced in current international communication.

Zhang Weiwei, director of the China Institute at Fudan University, highlighted that internet communication is reshaping the global landscape, and China is using the internet as a pathway to the world. Recent surveys have shown an increasing favorability towards China among people in non-Western regions such as the Middle East, Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America, which is closely related to internet products.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the BRI. The event is not only an occasion to celebrate the cultural richness of the Silk Road but also a crucial step towards strengthening people-to-people connections and promoting mutual understanding among nations as they bridge gaps, break down barriers, and build lasting friendships that transcend borders.

The conference was co-hosted by the Information Office of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Regional Government, the Government of Karamay City, and Huanqiu Online, and supported by the China Internet Development Foundation. It is part of the "Hello, Silk Road" series of online international communication and exchange events, which began on July 18.