BRI journalists and photographers gather in Chongqing for sharing session

An international delegation of media professionals and Belt and Road Initiative photo contest winners gathered for a sharing session on Wednesday in Chongqing to promote cultural exchange and highlight the municipality's role in the BRI.

The session was part of the Chongqing Belt and Road Journalists Station-Discover Chongqing Tour, held from Monday to Wednesday. The tour visited the Shapingba, Yuzhong, and Nan'an districts, as well as Chongqing Liangjiang New Area. The delegation included representatives from Belarus, Uzbekistan, Sri Lanka, Kazakhstan, and Serbia.

Last year, Chongqing was awarded as a Belt and Road journalists station during the 2024 Belt and Road Journalists Forum. Earlier this year, the Chongqing station collaborated with China Daily to organize an event centered on sharing stories related to the BRI, featuring the Chongqing's Footprint on Silk Road photo contest and the Discover Chongqing tour.

"These activities have drawn wide attention since their launch," said Gong Zhengzheng, director of China Daily's business development department, adding they had received a combined 351 submissions from Sri Lanka, Argentina, Pakistan, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Peru, Namibia, South Africa, Serbia, India, and China.

"This is not only a professional gathering for media personnel but also an event for cultural exchanges and friendship," said Tang Jianping, general manager of the Western China International Communication Organization, who co-organized the sharing session with China Daily.

She added that the Chongqing Belt and Road Journalists Station has established a comprehensive cooperative network with media outlets from countries involved in BRI, fostering mutual understanding and cooperation through innovative approaches, including multilingual reporting, collaborative productions, and reciprocal visits.

Chongqing collaborates closely with participating countries and regions in infrastructure, trade, people-to-people exchanges, technology, environmental protection, agriculture, healthcare, education, and other areas. It has achieved significant economic progress and played a crucial role in promoting cultural exchange and deepening mutual understanding, according to local authorities.