Fifty senior editors and reporters from 46 mainstream media organizations in 26 Latin American and African countries are in China to strengthen their comprehensive understanding of the country's development achievements and media convergence.

During the Belt and Road News Network (BRNN) Media Workshop, these journalists are participating in a series of activities that will help them better understand China's Belt and Road Initiative as well as the nation's development strategies and new technologies. The activities include lectures, visits to Chinese media, interviews and research in Chinese cities in Shaanxi, Zhejiang, Guizhou and Guangdong provinces.

The workshop kicked off on Monday in Beijing and will run through Sept 29.

Jiang Jianguo, deputy head of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said at the opening ceremony of the workshop that enhancing dialogues and exchanges and learning from each other are important ways for global media to achieve common development and better fulfill their journalistic mission.

"I sincerely hope that you will take this opportunity to conduct in-depth exchanges and communications, share best practices, promote pragmatic cooperation and understand and experience a friendly and colorful China in person," he told the participants.

Nwabisa Makunga, editor of The Herald & Weekend Post of South Africa, said that she believes the BRNN is important and has created a platform for global media to share their best practices.

"We particularly believe that for Africa, technological advancement and the use of digital tools to better tell our stories of the continent is one of our most important priorities," she said. "Therefore, it is potentially a crucial area of collaboration and exchange of ideas for the next two weeks."

The workshop is organized by the State Council Information Office and undertaken by the BRNN Secretariat and the Communication University of China.

Tuo Zhen, editor-in-chief of People's Daily of China, said that so far, 194 media organizations from 94 countries have joined the BRNN.

This workshop is a concrete measure for global media to enhance communication and cooperation and to jointly produce high-quality news products under the Belt and Road Initiative, he added.

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