On October 16, 2017, the 2017 Belt and Road Journalists Forum was held in Beijing. 32 heads of journalist organizations from 27 countries were invited to attend the Forum. After in-depth discussions on the communication mechanism among journalist organizations and cooperation of news media, a comprehensive consensus was reached and the Proposal for Belt and Road Journalist Organizations was released.
Participants took their seats at the round table in the alphabetical order of their country. The meeting was in a warm and friendly atmosphere. Zhang Yannong, President of All-China Journalists Federation, delivered a warm speech and read the Proposal for Belt and Road Journalist Organizations to the participants.
Zhang Yannong said that the Forum, adhering to the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, is committed to building a platform for better communication and mutual learning among journalist organizations of various countries. Journalist organizations are welcome to participate in the Forum to share opportunities, cope with challenges and seek common development. According to Zhang, the Forum is expected to become a new platform, new driver and stimulator for the journalist organizations to enhance exchanges and cooperation. All-China Journalists Association will actively promote the normalization of the Forum and create a long-term and stable platform for exchanges. It will organize various exchanges and cooperation activities among journalist organizations, news media and journalists, and play a positive role in the development of the BRI.
The Proposal for Belt and Road Journalist Organizations is welcomed by the heads of journalist organizations, who expressed the will to join hands with media and journalists of BRI countries to jointly promote exchanges and cooperation, facilitate the implementation of the BRI and benefit the countries and people along the Belt and Road.
Heads of journalist organizations from Laos, Vietnam, Russia and Turkey made keynote speeches respectively. Savankhone RAZMOUNTRY, President of Lao Journalists Association said in his speech that on the occasion of the upcoming 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, it is very significant that All-China Journalists Association invited representatives of Belt and Road journalist organizations to come to Beijing to discuss cooperation and development. As an active dialogue partner of ASEAN, China will continue to play an important role in the media industry. Timur Shafir, director of the International Liaison Department of the Russian Federation, said the exchanges and cooperation between journalist organizations of the Belt and Road countries have just begun, which requires our joint participation and efforts. The Russian Union of Journalists fully supports the Belt and Road Journalists Forum and is willing to actively participate in media exchanges and cooperation with the countries along the Belt and Road. Ho Quang Loi，first vice chairman of the Vietnam Journalists Association said the Vietnam Journalists Association will mobilize the national media resources to cover the BRI in cooperation with All-China Journalists Association. The Vietnam Journalists Association is willing to act as a bridge between the media along the Belt and Road countries and the ASEAN to jointly promote the implementation of this great initiative. Yuksel Mansur Kilinc, vice chairman the Professional Association of Radio and Television (RATEM) said that the rapid development of the Internet and social media has brought the global media industry into a new era. Journalist organizations should keep pace with the times and help domestic journalists improve their new media literacy. At present, the media in Asian countries have not yet achieved sufficient exchanges and cooperation. Therefore, it is of great significance to establish a cooperation mechanism between journalist organizations.
The delegates also actively spoke and offered suggestions on how to build an exchange and cooperation mechanism.
The delegates also actively spoke and offered suggestions on how to build an exchange and cooperation mechanism.
