China Hosts 2025 Media Cooperation Forum on Belt and Road: Fostering Global Dialogue and Cultural Exchange

This year’s Media Cooperation Forum on Belt and Road, hosted by People’s Daily in collaboration with the CPC Yunnan Provincial Committee and the Yunnan Provincial Government, centered on the theme: “Shared Media Responsibility for Exchanges and Mutual Learning among Civilizations.”

Wang Yubo, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Yunnan Provincial Committee and Governor of Yunnan Province, opened the forum by highlighting President Xi Jinping’s recognition of the media’s critical role in advancing the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). “The media plays an irreplaceable role in information dissemination, enhancing mutual trust, building consensus, and fostering cooperation,” he emphasized.

Chen Jianwen, Editor-in-Chief of People’s Daily, also addressed participants, underscoring the forum as a platform for international media organizations to collaborate, share Silk Road stories, and strengthen cultural and economic ties along the Belt and Road. “With your keen observations, insightful narratives, and compelling visuals, you are invited to share stories of development, livelihoods, and friendship along the Belt and Road. May the vision of win-win cooperation resonate widely, reach farther, and take deeper root in the hearts of people worldwide,” he said.

Chen highlighted Yunnan as China’s gateway to South and Southeast Asia, portraying the province as a hub of cultural diversity and economic openness. Drawing parallels between the millennia-old Tea Horse Road and the modern Belt and Road Initiative, he described Yunnan as a unique meeting point of history and contemporary development, inviting participants to witness its dynamic modernization and rich cultural charm.

For more than a decade, this annual forum organized by People’s Daily has been a cornerstone of China’s media landscape. Serving as a high-level platform, it brings together policymakers, media professionals, entrepreneurs, and scholars to discuss the media’s role in a rapidly evolving international environment, the opportunities and challenges of the AI era, and regional collaboration. By promoting cross-cultural understanding and international media cooperation, the forum highlights the Belt and Road Initiative’s contributions to global development. Sharing best practices and experiences, participants help position the event as a key hub for dialogue, cultural exchange, and showcasing the positive impact of the Belt and Road.