Media outlets are important contributors to enhance people-to-people exchanges for countries along the Belt and Road, said Cui Yuying, vice minister of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) on May 14 in Beijing.

We fully support increased exchanges and cooperation between Chinese media outlets and their foreign counterparts to help rejuvenate an ancient silk route of mutual respect, mutual understanding and win-win cooperation, said Cui, who is also vice minister of the State Council Information Office.

She made the remarks during a thematic session on people-to-people connectivity at the height of the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation.

Last year, China has established a media union dedicated to the Belt and Road Initiative to push for cooperation of media outlets among countries along the Belt and Road, enhance people-to-people exchanges and mutual learning of different civilizations through telling unique “Silk Road” stories, spread “Silk Road” culture and promote “Silk Road” spirit, she explained.

Up to 47 media organizations, including America’s Discovery Channel and National Geographic, have joined the union to engage in cooperation of program production, resource exchanges, technological development and personnel training.

In addition to hosting more thematic discussion and mutual visit programs among different media outlets, the union will establish a multinational communication network and a new media platform for the Silk Road TV so as to form a multi-dimensional communication system for introducing the Belt and Road Initiative, Cui said.

Proposed by China's President Xi Jinping in 2013, the Belt and Road Initiative, consisting of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, seeks to synergize efforts to boost policy coordination, facility connectivity, unimpeded trade, financial integration and people-to-people links along and even beyond the ancient trade routes.