2017 Asia Media Summit opens in Qingdao

The 2017 Asia Media Summit opened in grand style on June 6 in the eastern Chinese city of Qingdao, Shandong province, as more than 450 government officials, media professionals, scholars and stakeholders from across the world gathered to share their thoughts on the future of broadcasting and publishing.

Organized by the Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD) and jointly hosted by China's State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television and the Qingdao municipal government, the annual event attracted high-level decision makers from Asia-Pacific, Africa, Europe, the Middle East and North America.

Government officials from Asia-Pacific, Africa, Europe, the Middle East and North America pose for a group photo at the 2017 Asia Media Summit on June 6 in Qingdao, Shandong province. [Photo/WeChat account: qdfbwx]    

The three-day event will feature discussions on many issues related to this year's theme, "Media on the Frontline of Global Development". This will include events on topics such as "How Media can Shape the Development Agenda", "Media Responsibility and Global Issues: Activism or Neutrality?", "Media for No Poverty: Creating Public Awareness and Engagement" and "Strategies for High-Quality Programming: Concept, Content and Formats".

Chinese Vice-Premier Liu Yandong took part in the inaugural session of the summit and delivered a keynote address.

Liu stressed the importance of strengthening media responsibility and collaboration and said that broadcasters should be active in ensuring the progress and execution of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals in their respective countries.

According to Liu, media play a significant role in promoting social development, promoting the public interest, fostering cross-cultural exchanges and maintaining world peace and security.   

The world today is undergoing major development, major adjustment and major change, said Liu. To build a human community of shared destiny, media worldwide should enhance practical cooperation, reduce suspicion and enhance consensus so as to create a win-win situation and enhance understanding and deepen friendship around the world.

Liu also emphasized that media collaboration is an important part of deepening regional cooperation and working together on projects such as the Belt and Road Initiative.

She also expressed the hope that media in countries across Asia would uphold the concept of mutual benefit and win-win outcomes, maintain an open and inclusive spirit, enhance pragmatic cooperation, continue to learn from each other, and respect cultural diversity and other countries' choices of development paths that suit their national conditions, so as to push civilization forward, promote international friendship and mutual understanding, consolidate collective confidence and advance common development.