Hosted by the All-China Journalists Association, the 2023 Belt and Road Journalists Forum was held in Beijing on October 12, 2023. Nearly 100 members of journalists’ organizations and media representatives from more than 40 countries and regions involved in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) were in attendance at the meeting. They had in-depth discussions and exchanges centered on the theme of “Building a Beautiful Silk Road, Jointly Promoting Prosperity and Development.” 

Sun Yeli, deputy director of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and director of the State Council Information Office of China, attended the event and delivered a speech during the opening ceremony. 

Nearly 100 representatives of media organizations from over 40 BRI member countries and regions attend the 2023 Belt and Road Journalists Forum in Beijing on October 12, 2023.   

Over the past decade, the BRI participating countries have deepened policy communication, facilitated infrastructure connectivity, expanded trade cooperation, improved financial accommodation, and promoted people-to-people exchanges. All of this has brought broad benefits to local people’s life and injected positive energy into global peace and development.  

Based on the Belt & Road Journalists Network, journalists from member countries of the BRI have firmly promoted cooperation, stuck to morality under the changing international situation, and helped each other during the COVID-19 pandemic. They have also come to better understand the BRI and play an important role in reporting it to various audiences. 

Both domestic and foreign guests expressed their commitment to deepen cooperation based on the framework of the BRI. They emphasized the importance of telling BRI stories combined with the trend of the era and the hope of the people. They aim to make their voice heard in the international press to maintain peace and promote development. By actively preserving traditional culture, fostering innovation, and promoting coexistence of different civilizations, they stressed the hope for advancing high-quality and long-term development of the BRI.

Meanwhile, journalist organizations from various countries will also expand the scope of the “Journalist Home” and promote the construction of an international cooperation network, so as to better unite media wokers for jointly creating a better future. 

The launch ceremony of the photo and short video competition themed “Building a Home Planet.” Photos courtesy of All-China Journalists Association 

During the forum, the issuing of the “Join Hands to Embark on a New Journey of the Next Decade － Joint Declaration of the Belt and Road Journalist Organizations” showed the strong willingness of all participants to work together to enhance political trust, economic and trade interactions, cultural exchanges, and media cooperation, in order to enhance mutual understanding and trust among people of BRI participating countries.  

The forum also announced the winners of the “Indomitable Spirit” short video contest and launched the photo and short video competition themed “Building Home Planet.”