Guangzhou, Guangdong Province

07 Dec. 2023 (Xinhua)

5-day long 5th World Media Summit concluded in Guangzhou, Guandong Province of China.

Worldwide media conference was organized by Xinhua News Agency and the provincial government of Guangdong, from December 02-07, 2023. During the 5th World Media Summit in China, global media executives discussed new trends and opportunities in the industry in 2024.

The 5th World Media Summit released a joint statement during its opening ceremony and plenary session at its main venue in Nansha District of Guangzhou, south China’s Guangdong Province on Sunday.

The summit attracted more than 450 representatives from nearly 200 institutions, including media outlets, think tanks and international organizations, from over 100 countries and regions.

With the theme of “Boosting Global Confidence, Promoting Media Development,” the attendees conducted extensive and in-depth discussions on four topics, namely, “Bolstering Confidence: Media’s Role in Promoting Human Development and Security,” “Embracing Changes: Media’s Response to New Technological Opportunities and Challenges,” “Pioneering Innovation: Media’s New Markets in the Digital Age,” and “Seeking Growth: Media’s Worldwide Cooperation for a Better Future,” to explore ways for the media industry to address global challenges, the Joint Statement for the 5th World Media Summit said.

Noting that the world today is undergoing accelerated changes unseen in a century, with uncertainties and unforeseen factors on the rise, the participants called on global media to build a bridge of communication to answer questions posed by the world, by the times and by history.

They expressed the hope that global media will pay more attention to the pressing demands of developing countries in areas such as poverty reduction, food security, financing for development, and industrialization, and help resolve imbalances and inadequacies in development.

The participants also called on global media organizations to strengthen cooperation, promote the common development of the world media industry, and facilitate mutual understanding and communication among countries and peoples with different historical backgrounds, cultural traditions and development status, so as to deliver greater stability and positive energy to a volatile world.

QNA reported that on the sidelines of the 5th World Media Summit, Director-General of Qatar News Agency (QNA), Ahmed bin Saeed Al Rumaihi met President of Chinese News Agency (Xinhua) Fu Hua. During the meeting, they discussed ways to enhance joint cooperation between the two sides and how the media industry can respond to challenges and promote peace, prosperity and progress in the world.

QNA Director praised China’s hosting of the summit and the good organization of this global media forum, that saw the participation of over 450 representatives of news agencies, media, research centers, officials and diplomats from all over the world.

Al Rumaihi also stressed that Xinhua News Agency is an important and influential media institution, and that the Qatar News Agency attaches great importance to enhancing cooperation and exchanging experiences between the two sides, in a way that strengthens the friendship between the peoples of the two countries.

The 5th World Media Summit (WMS) was held from Dec. 2 to 8 in the Chinese cities of Guangzhou and Kunming. Media leaders attending the summit have hailed it as a good opportunity to boost cooperation in the industry. The media personalities discussed on the efforts to address the opportunities and challenges facing the media industry in the digital era.

Maria Bernarda Llorente, President of Telam, Argentina’s official news agency talking to Xinhua News Agency said that ‘It is very important that different media from around the world meet here, that we can share our agendas, that we can also update it’.

Abdullah Mismar, Managing Editor of Ammon News, Jordan said that The World Media Summit in China provides a great opportunity for networking and enhancing mutual understanding among media outlets.

Andrew Brown, Chief of Communication and Advocacy at UNICEF office for China stated that ‘The World Media Summit is a great opportunity to encourage more media to tell children’s stories’.

Iqbal Surve, Chairman of South Africa’s Independent Media, told Xinhua an interview that The fifth World Media Summit comes at an opportune time and plays a vital role in providing the truth and presenting both sides of the story, making it “a really important international media summit’.

Some of the participants of the view that there will be no difference between media and social media. We might combine news and entertainment together. Our opportunity will be in video.

Participants in the World Media Summit shared their insights and perspectives on Chinese modernization. The key element of that modernization in China is what can be referred to as a people-centered modernization of people-centered development.

Zheng Xin of Xinhua News Agency reported that representatives worldwide attending the 5th World Media Summit in south China’s Guangzhou have praised the Chinese path to modernization. They were of the view that Chinese modernization is quite breathtaking. China’s development is also a great example of the state to ensure a common prosperity for its people.

Some of the participants shared their China stories and offered insights on China’s development.

At the 5th World Media Summit, a book on the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China grabbed the attention of the participants including an Argentine sinologist.