Journalists' role in BRI cooperation highlighted

Journalists play a crucial role in building the Belt and Road and advancing international cooperation on global governance, as they bridge nations, cultures and communities, media leaders said at the 2026 Belt and Road Journalists Forum held on Saturday in Nanjing, Jiangsu province.

Themed "Convergence and Connectivity · Innovation and Progress · Media Transformation amid Global Changes", the forum gathered nearly 100 journalists and media leaders from over 50 countries and regions.

Mo Gaoyi, deputy head of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and director of the State Council Information Office, noted in his remarks that the Belt and Road Journalists Network has made significant contributions toward advancing the high-quality joint construction of the Belt and Road.

Mo noted that the world is undergoing unprecedented changes, and global media cooperation is becoming increasingly critical for strengthening connectivity between people, infrastructure, rules and standards.

He added that China's journalist community hopes to strengthen international communication, telling Belt and Road stories together through objective and truthful reporting that showcases the diversity of civilizations coexisting in harmony.

Mo also stressed the need to deepen practical cooperation on media transformation in the era of artificial intelligence, and to promote coordination with Global South nations so that their stories are better heard on the global stage.

John Wallace, executive director of the Asia Pacific Journalism Centre, said that in this rapidly changing world, better communication and trust are essential, in order to overcome prejudice, ignorance and misunderstanding. They are also vital both for preventing unnecessary conflict today and building a more effective and inclusive system of global governance in the future.

"Journalism has a crucial role to play because it shapes how nations perceive one another. One of its greatest challenges is to understand and accurately convey the profound changes that have taken place across Asia and other developing regions in recent decades," said Wallace.

He Ping, president of the All-China Journalists Association and a member of the presidium of the Belt and Road Journalists Network, pointed out that, faced with rising unilateralism and protectionism, the global community is in greater need of upholding the Silk Road spirit of peace and cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, mutual learning and mutual benefit. With pens and cameras, He called for closer ties among global journalists to bridge different civilizations and people, contributing to the world's stability and vitality.

Chroniclers, promoters

Participants at the forum agreed that journalists are the chroniclers, participants and promoters in jointly building the Belt and Road, which has now entered a new phase of development characterized by higher quality and higher standards.

They also reached consensus that media communities across nations should share Belt and Road stories through objective and truthful reporting, with a focus on major landmark projects as well as smaller, heartwarming life stories.

"Global cooperation requires more than physical infrastructure, trade and economic partnerships. It also requires communication, cultural exchange and mutual trust. As journalists, we can build bridges between nations by sharing reliable information, respecting cultural differences and encouraging dialogue," said Puy Kea, president of the Club of Cambodian Journalists and rotating president of the presidium of the Belt and Road Journalists Network.

He added that despite differences in their nationalities, cultures and political systems, journalists and media leaders are not merely observers of global change, but also help shape public understanding, promote transparency and bring the voices of diverse communities to the international stage.

"The 'Silk Road spirit' is about learning together and growing together," said Zuzana Lechanova, a news reporter with Slovak Television. "Each of our countries has a different system, culture and traditions. But what connects us is our search for truth and our fight against prejudice. If we want people to support the Belt and Road Initiative, we must tell them true stories — stories about our success, but also about our challenges."

wangxin2@chinadaily.com.cn