Fuzhou initiative calls for stronger media cooperation along Belt and Road

FUZHOU, CHINA: The 2026 Media Cooperation Forum on Belt and Road has issued the Belt and Road Media Cooperation: Fuzhou Initiative. The document calls for stronger international media exchanges, professional collaboration and people-to-people connections to support high-quality Belt and Road cooperation.

More than 200 media representatives from 182 media outlets and institutions across 100 countries, together with international and regional organisations, participated in the forum. Hosted by People's Daily and the People's Government of Fujian Province, the forum has developed into a major international platform for media cooperation over the past decade.

Held under the theme 'Pursuing Common Understandings and Aspirations: A Decade of Belt and Road Media Cooperation', the gathering focused on the role of media in a changing international environment, as well as opportunities and challenges arising from artificial intelligence, regional cooperation and global communication.

The initiative identifies five key areas of cooperation: win-win partnerships, consensus-building, content collaboration, technological advancement, and closer ties among peoples and civilisations. It states that the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013, has evolved from a Chinese proposal into an international practice and that cooperation among partner countries has contributed to global economic growth, improvements in global economic governance and enhanced well-being.

The document calls on media organisations to uphold professional integrity, reject misinformation and promote rational, balanced and fair reporting. It says responsible journalism can help create an environment for sharing opportunities, addressing common challenges and pursuing shared prosperity.

The initiative also encourages news organisations to make greater use of multilateral platforms, including the Belt and Road News Network, for joint reporting, personnel exchanges, information sharing and co-production of media programmes. It further urges broader and more regular cooperation mechanisms to produce quality content documenting and promoting Belt and Road cooperation.

Highlighting the growing influence of artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies on the media sector and public opinion, the initiative calls on media organisations to embrace digital and intelligent transformation while ensuring technology serves progress and the public good. It also encourages greater media attention to cooperation in green development, digital transformation and health.

A significant part of the initiative focuses on strengthening people-to-people relations and exchanges among civilisations. It urges media organisations to expand cultural and grassroots exchanges, encourage mutual learning and appreciation among civilisations, and turn people's shared aspirations into greater trust and understanding.

Referring to Fujian's distinctive identity, the initiative notes that it is the only province in China whose name contains the Chinese character 'Fu', meaning blessing. It adds that seeking blessings and hoping for a better life are common aspirations among people across countries and cultures, and invites media organisations worldwide to promote understanding and cooperation through this shared sentiment.

The forum was established to promote greater understanding among media professionals and strengthen professional and institutional links between media organisations across countries. Over the years, it has expanded into a platform bringing together media practitioners, policymakers, entrepreneurs and scholars to share experiences and discuss areas of common interest.

The previous edition, held in Kunming, the capital of Yunnan Province, brought together more than 200 representatives from 165 media outlets and organisations from 87 countries, along with international and regional organisations.

Following the Fuzhou forum, Chinese and international media representatives are scheduled to take part in week-long media workshops, joint reporting activities and field visits in Fuzhou and other parts of Fujian Province.

The initiative concludes by expressing hope for continued close exchanges among media organisations worldwide and greater media contributions to shared development, building a community with a shared future for mankind and creating a better world.

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