The Asia-Pacific Media Forum, a key component of the APEC "China Year" series of events, was held in Shenzhen, Guangdong province in south China, on September 5. Over 400 representatives from more than 40 countries and regions, as well as United Nations agencies and international organizations, discussed deepening media cooperation across the Asia-Pacific region.

The topics included opening up and cooperation, digitized and intelligent green transformation, and media exchange. The participants sought to build consensus for development, amplifying their collective voice through dialogue and collaboration, and contributing media strength to promote growth and prosperity in the region.

Consensus on shared prosperity

Melissa Fleming, under-secretary-general for Global Communications at the United Nations, said in a video address that the media plays a central role in the conversations gathering voices from across the Asia-Pacific to discuss growth and prosperity and seeking solutions to the world's most pressing problems.

Kaewkamol Pitakdumrongkit, executive director of the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council International Secretariat, said the Asia-Pacific Media Forum enabled all parties to jointly reflect on how they can contribute to building an open, dynamic, resilient and peaceful Asia-Pacific community. Meaningful conversations help all parties to listen to diverse voices, and gain broader perspectives, thereby reducing misunderstandings, seeking common interests, enhancing the mutual trust necessary for cooperation, and jointly facing challenges with a longer-term vision.

Dmitry Gornostayev, deputy director general of the Rossiya Segodnya Media Group of Russia, said as global economic growth faces multiple challenges, the role of the Asia-Pacific as a growth engine has become even more prominent. Deepening cooperation through the APEC mechanism is of vital importance for regional development.

Artificial intelligence (AI) and digital platforms are profoundly altering the information ecosystem and the way people consume news, Felix Paz Quiroz, general director of the Peruvian news agency Andina, said. Technological innovation has significantly enhanced the ability of information dissemination. The key lies in how to steadily carry out digital transformation while upholding the responsibility of journalism. Quiroz suggested the Asia-Pacific media share experiences in digital transformation, promote professional exchanges, and explore responsible applications of AI.

Sci-tech-enabled media evolution

Before the forum, the delegates visited various cities in south China and saw the achievements of China's modernization in practice as well as the powerful momentum of sci-tech innovation.

Tatyana Kaukhnova, a board member of Kazakhstan's Belt and Road Expert Club, said this visit made her realize how China is increasingly focusing on using sci-tech innovation to improve people's lives. These approaches and experiences are worth learning from.

Anish Chand, The Fiji Times' managing editor, digital, was keen to learn more about China's AI-powered robotics technology. "Its introduction could very well contribute to the industrial development of our country," he said.

The visitors also saw how China, in collaboration with its partners, is building an Asia-Pacific community, bringing tangible opportunities for regional and even global peace and development. John Wallace, executive director of the Asia Pacific Journalism Centre, Australia, said the positive values brought by China should be recognized and the reality of its continuous growth viewed objectively.

The Asia-Pacific region is home to extraordinary economic dynamism, technological innovation and cultural diversity. It connects countries and regions with different historical backgrounds, perspectives, and media traditions, Konstantinos Oikonomou, senior vice president of CNN, said during the forum. He said diversity should not be regarded as an obstacle; it should be transformed into a source of strength. This requires the media in the Asia-Pacific to deepen their cooperation through a stronger industry network, more extensive knowledge and experience exchanges, as well as collaborative approaches that transcend national boundaries and regions.

At the forum, 16 media organizations from China and abroad launched the Organizing Committee of the Asia-Pacific Media Partnership Program.