BRI media outlets to combat fake news with facts

Media from countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative should step up efforts to inform people about the achievements and related policies of the initiative objectively to enable the BRI to further support economic and social development in those countries, media representatives from home and abroad said.

Media plays an irreplaceable role in disseminating information, enhancing mutual trust and building consensus in the implementation of the BRI, Li Shulei, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, said on Thursday.

He made the remarks during the 2023 Media Cooperation Forum on Belt and Road held by People's Daily in Beijing. More than 130 representatives from 110 media outlets of 75 countries involved in the BRI took part in the forum.

"Media outlets need to focus on reporting the benefits brought by the BRI. More in-depth research needs to be conducted on topics including green development, digital economy and healthcare. Also, more objective media products on the long-term benefits of quality development brought by the BRI need to be made," Li said.

He suggested media outlets report on the successful practices of cooperation between China and other countries involved in the BRI, including in technological innovation, setting standards and cooperation models.

Qu Yingpu, publisher and editor-in-chief of China Daily, said as this year marks the 10th anniversary of the BRI, media outlets bear great responsibility in boosting understanding so the initiative can continue to thrive.

"Through comprehensive and objective stories, media outlets can help people to become more open-minded to other civilizations, which can be harmonious yet different. It's also necessary to present stories about the BRI with a balanced perspective and vivid expression to strengthen people-to-people ties," Qu said.

Representatives of foreign media agreed that the initiative has boosted the flow of goods, capital, technologies and human resources in their home countries and vowed to report more on the realities and facts about the BRI.

Mushahid Hussain Syed, chairman of Islamabad-based think tank Pakistan-China Institute, said the biggest challenge to the BRI is the information warfare waged by certain countries, especially the United States. The false information on the BRI can only be countered with facts, he said.

Pavel Negoitsa, general director of the Russian newspaper Rossiyskaya Gazeta, said media outlets have a professional obligation to expose fake news about the BRI, which has been deliberately made up to prevent others from joining the initiative.