12TH GLOBAL VIDEO MEDIA FORUM OPENS IN QUANZHOU

From Ravichandran D.J. Paul

QUANZHOU (China), Dec 3 (Bernama) -- The historic maritime Silk Road city of Quanzhou hosted the 12th Global Video Media Forum (VMF), emphasising the transformative power of video communication in fostering cultural exchange and promoting a fairer global order.

The one-day forum, organised by China Media Group (CMG), brought together approximately 80 media representatives worldwide, including Malaysia’s Bernama.

In his opening address, CMG Editor-in-Chief Shen Haixiong highlighted how artificial intelligence and emerging technologies are reshaping cultural interactions and global communication.

Shen, who also serves as the Deputy Head of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China, noted of the soft power of Chinese media and the pivotal role of CMG’s technological innovations in promoting cultural understanding.

Former Kyrgyz Prime Minister Djoomart Otorbaev delivered the first keynote address, focusing on the "Three Cs" - competition, cooperation, and communication- where he commended China's remarkable success.

He cited the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) as a testament to China's ability to foster cooperation, noting its rapid adoption by over 150 nations and organisations.

A memorable remark from the opening was that the "shortest route to connect two cultures is not the Euclidean distance but a short video," underscoring the role of media in bridging global divides.

Other distinguished speakers included: Ahmed Nadem, Secretary General of the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union; Abdul Rahim Suleiman, Director General of the Arab States Broadcasting Union; Zhang Yigong, Secretary of the Quanzhou Municipal Party Committee.

Quanzhou, known as a crucial starting point of the ancient Maritime Silk Road, is a prominent city in China’s Fujian province. With an economic output of 1.2 trillion yuan in 2022, Quanzhou ranked 19th among Chinese cities.

Today, it is a pilot zone and strategic pivot for the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. The forum highlighted Quanzhou’s enduring historical significance and its role in shaping the future of cultural and media cooperation through advanced communication technologies.

-- BERNAMA