The Belt and Road News Network (BRNN), a China-led grouping of media outlets, has convened its fourth council meeting in Fuzhou, China. Representatives from 38 media organisations in 23 countries attended the event to discuss the network's future direction. The meeting aimed to enhance cooperation and strengthen people-to-people bonds between countries. The BRNN was established to promote media cooperation and support the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
The BRNN has achieved significant growth since its inception, with 327 media members from 120 countries now part of the network. According to People's Daily, which chairs the network, the BRNN has become an established platform for international media cooperation and a flagship public diplomacy brand under the Belt and Road framework. The network has grown in size, coverage, and intake of new members.
The council meeting took place alongside the 2024 Media Cooperation Forum on Belt and Road, which drew over 200 delegates from 182 media outlets and institutions in 100 countries. Hu Heping, executive deputy head of the Communist Party's Central Publicity Department, highlighted the BRI's achievements, citing 150 signatory countries, 30 international organisations, and over 4,000 cooperation projects.
Looking ahead, the council plans to focus on four key areas: widening membership while raising its quality, trying new forms of media exchange, responding to the changes intelligent technologies are bringing, and extending the international reach of its awards. The council also adopted the Joint Declaration of the Fourth Council Meeting of the Belt and Road News Network, which outlines six pledges.
The Joint Declaration emphasises the importance of staying true to the founding mission, focusing on development that benefits everyone, safeguarding peace and rational public debate, and promoting exchanges among civilisations. The declaration also highlights the need to make sound use of intelligent technologies and deepen cooperation to bring together strengths from many sides.
The meeting also published the roster of the fourth council, comprising 42 media organisations from 26 countries. Members discussed ways to get more out of the network, better run the international Silk Road Awards, and strengthen people-to-people bonds between countries. They pledged to keep the Silk Road spirit alive and work together as chroniclers, promoters, and builders of the Belt and Road Initiative.
South Africa's Independent Media was a founding signatory of the first council's joint statement when the network launched in 2019. Independent Online chief executive Viasen Soobramoney emphasised the importance of a diversity of voices and mutual respect in creating a fairer world. He believes the BRNN can help strengthen connections between media organisations and make room for stories that might otherwise go unheard.
Key points
- The Belt and Road News Network has grown to 327 media members from 120 countries.
- The network aims to widen membership while raising its quality and try new forms of media exchange.
- The BRNN has become an established platform for international media cooperation and a flagship public diplomacy brand under the Belt and Road framework.
