The Belt and Road Media Cooperation Forum, 2026, hosted by the People's Daily opens today in Fuzhou, Fujian Province, China. The two-day meeting represents an important milestone in international media cooperation, offering an opportunity to reflect on a decade of media collaboration, assess its achievements and explore new pathways for strengthening communication among member media organizations.

The meeting highlights the growing recognition that connectivity between countries is not only about building roads, railways, ports and digital infrastructure. It also requires communication, mutual understanding, cultural exchange and the free flow of information. Media organizations have a crucial role to play in bringing people closer, explaining development experiences and creating a more balanced understanding of the world.

The Belt and Road Initiative has expanded cooperation across infrastructure, trade, investment, education, technology and cultural exchange over the past decade. Alongside these developments, media cooperation has emerged as an important instrument for connecting societies.

Journalists, editors, broadcasters and digital media professionals help translate major development projects and international partnerships into stories that ordinary people can understand. Through reporting, documentaries, interviews, cultural programs and digital platforms, media institutions can highlight shared opportunities while giving visibility to the experiences and aspirations of participating countries.

The Fuzhou forum therefore, provides a valuable platform for media professionals to exchange perspectives, establish partnerships and strengthen professional relationships. It also reinforces the principle that international cooperation should not be limited to governments and businesses but should actively involve societies and their people.

The 2026 meeting is particularly significant because it provides an opportunity to take stock of the progress achieved since the establishment of the forum in 2014. Over the years, the initiative has grown into an international platform bringing together media organizations, journalists and communication professionals from different countries and regions.

One notable achievement is the establishment of the Belt and Road News Network (BRNN), initiated by the People's Daily following the 2017 Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation.

The meeting also comes at a critical moment for the global media industry. Digital transformation, artificial intelligence, social media and changing audience expectations are reshaping how information is produced and consumed.

These developments create opportunities for international media collaboration but also introduce challenges, including misinformation, disinformation, declining public trust and unequal access to digital technologies.

Against this background, the forum provides an important space for discussing responsible journalism, technological innovation, professional training and the future of cross-border media partnerships. Particular attention should be given to ensuring that technological advancement strengthens journalistic quality, accuracy and public access to reliable information.

Equally important is the need to promote professional standards, editorial integrity, diverse perspectives and constructive engagement. Strong international media cooperation must be built on mutual respect, credibility and an appreciation of differences in national experiences and media environments.

For African countries and other developing economies, the meeting carries particular significance. Many countries in the Global South are seeking greater international visibility, stronger digital infrastructure and opportunities to share their development experiences with the world. The forum therefore presents an opportunity to strengthen South-South media cooperation and ensure that developing countries have a stronger voice in international conversations about development and global governance.

As the initiative enters another decade of media cooperation, the task remains to translate shared commitments into practical programs that benefit journalists, media institutions and audiences across participating countries.

The November 3–4 gathering is both a celebration of achievements and a forward-looking opportunity to redefine international media partnerships. I take this opportunity to congratulate the People's Daily upon convening this important meeting.

The author is a researcher and publisher on China-Africa Cooperation and Development