The Laos-China Railway, a flagship project of the BRI, is highlighted as a positive result of the initiative at the forum.

Belt and Road Media Cooperation Forum calls for deeper exchanges, highlights BRI spirit

Kunming, Yunnan, China – The 2025 Media Cooperation Forum on the Belt and Road kicked off on Tuesday in China’s Yunnan province, bringing together media leaders and editors from across the globe to strengthen exchanges and promote the spirit of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
The event brought together over 200 foreign representatives from 87 countries, international and regional organisations, and 165 media outlets and institutions.
Held under the theme “Sharing Media Responsibility to Promote Mutual Learning among Civilisations”, participants pledged to deepen cooperation, foster mutual understanding, and more effectively communicate the values underpinning the BRI.
Speakers highlighted the initiative’s achievements over the past decade, pointing to its role in building global infrastructure and logistics networks, driving economic growth, improving livelihoods, and enhancing people-to-people bonds along the route.
Proposed by President Xi Jinping, the BRI was launched in 2013 with the aim of building a community with a shared future for humanity. 
“Under President Xi’s guidance, the initiative has turned vision into action, expanding both in scope and depth,” said the President of the People’s Daily, Yu Shaoliang.

2025 Media Cooperation Forum on Belt and Road opens in Yunnan province.

Participants noted that the BRI has become a widely recognised international public good and a key platform for global cooperation. 
Mr Yu also referenced President Xi’s recent proposal of a Global Governance Initiative at the “Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Plus” conference, which seeks to advance a fairer and more equitable global governance system.
“This initiative has also opened up new opportunities for high-quality Belt and Road development,” he said through an interpreter.
Editor-in-Chief of the Saudi Arabia-based Al-Riyadh newspaper, Mr Hani Wafa, echoed the positive role of the BRI, stressing that the BRI aligns closely with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which seeks to diversify the economy of the oil-rich country and strengthen its regional integration.
Participants underlined the vital role of the media in responsibly sharing objective, vivid, and in-depth stories about the BRI, conveying its true spirit while fostering inclusiveness and mutual learning among civilisations.
Deputy Director of the International Department of People's Daily, Mr Pei Guangjiang said media plays an important role in deepening friendship and promoting people-to-people bonds. 
“We are willing to work with media from all countries to deepen cooperation, achieve win-win results, and jointly report news stories from China and the world, bringing greater benefits to people of all countries,” he said.
Co-hosted by the People's Daily, the Yunnan Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China, and the Yunnan Provincial People's Government, the forum featured a series of sub-forums, including the Belt and Road Media Cooperation Dialogue.
On the same day, the Second Silk Road Global News Awards ceremony honoured outstanding media contributions from BRI countries. Among the awardees was Lao National Television, which received an award for its documentary titled “The Beauty of Laos”. This two-part series, co-produced with Yunnan Provincial Television Station, consists of two 50-minute episodes showcasing the BRI story.
Yunnan Governor Wang Yubo also commended the contribution of the Lao media, including the Vientiane Times, for showcasing the tangible benefits of BRI projects in Laos.

The Tuesday event also witnessed the launch ceremony of the Innovation and Practice in Developing Green Belt and Road, underscoring China’s commitment to supporting green growth in BRI participating countries through cooperative initiatives and projects such as solar and wind farms.
The forum continues on Wednesday with a seminar on media cooperation between ASEAN and its dialogue partners China, Japan, and South Korea (ASEAN+3), aimed at further strengthening regional media collaboration.
Following the conference, Chinese and international media representatives will embark on a weeklong reporting tour across Yunnan and other provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities to learn firsthand the progress and impact of BRI projects across China.
Since its launch in 2014, the Media Cooperation Forum on Belt and Road has been held nine times, serving as a platform for policymakers, media leaders and editors, experts, and business executives to exchange views, foster consensus, and build momentum for advancing high-quality Belt and Road cooperation.

By Souksakhone Vaenkeo
(Latest Update September 17, 2025)