The Workshop for the Heads of Journalists’ Organizations from Countries along the Belt and Road was successfully held via video links from July 13th to 16th, 2021. Nearly 30 heads of journalists’ organizations and media from 12 countries including Belarus, South Korea, Bangladesh, Laos, Latvia, Tanzania, Kenya, Mongolia, Pakistan, Iraq, Uzbekistan and Morocco attended the workshop.
The workshop aims to enhance mutual understanding and learning of journalistic concepts and promote cooperation and exchanges in journalism among countries located along the Belt and Road. Executives, experts and scholars of Chinese mainstream media, journalists’ organizations and research institutions, such as China Media Group, China Daily, All China Association of Journalists, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, have been invited to the seminar. They briefed the workshop attendees on China’s national conditions, development of media, China’s measures against COVID-19, international cooperation in the fight against the pandemic, emerging opportunities in the process of advancing the “Belt and Road” Initiative, international cooperation and exchanges in journalism.
Attendees went online on time to listen to lectures given by experts and eagerly engaged in classroom discussions. They exchanged views with lecturers on such topics as “vaccine research and development, vaccination and international cooperation”, “media’s role in the fight against COVID-19”, “international media exchanges in the post-pandemic era” and “new media development and information dissemination”.
Andrei Krivosheev, Chairman of the Belarusian Union of Journalists, stated that “the workshop is very informative and relevant. The topics such as cooperation against COVID-19, opposition to misinformation, protection of journalists’ rights and interests, mutual understanding between different traditions and cultures are very significant and meaningful”. Monjurul Ahsan Bulbul, Chairman of Media Watch Bangladesh suggested that, “I am very delighted to meet again with representatives of journalists’ organizations online to discuss issues of practical value such as international cooperation on vaccines. At this extraordinary moment, we need such pragmatic exchanges between journalists’ organizations.” Jamila, Haji and Rebecca, attendees from Kenya, said that “the lectures are highly informative. The workshop provides an excellent opportunity for deepening mutual understanding.” “We strongly agree what was proposed in the workshop that the media should assume social responsibility when releasing information to the public.”