Media leaders pledge contribution to BRICS cooperation

Leaders of 27 media organizations from BRICS countries on June 8 promised to deepen cooperation and contribute to the BRICS framework at the ongoing BRICS Media Forum.

The forum, with the theme "Deepening media cooperation among BRICS countries, promoting equity and justice in international media," was proposed by Xinhua News Agency and jointly initiated with Brazil's CMA Group, Russia's Sputnik News Agency and Radio, the Hindu Group of India and South Africa's Independent Media.

Liu Qibao, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and head of the committee's Publicity Department, urged BRICS media to promote win-win cooperation and push the international order in a fairer and more reasonable direction while addressing the forum.

"Sharing a common destiny, BRICS countries form not only an interconnected community of interests, but also a community of joint actions," said Liu.

"There are misinterpreting and misreading voices in international public opinion that are skeptical of the development prospects of BRICS countries and even BRICS itself," said Liu, urging BRICS media to maintain composure and consolidate confidence, and pass on the message of confidence in BRICS countries' development.

Liu called for pragmatic cooperation among BRICS media, including conducting joint interviews on major topics, promoting cooperation in information services, professional training, human resources and think tank exchanges, as well as sharing experiences in meeting the challenges of the Internet and promoting integrated media development.

Delivering a keynote speech at the opening ceremony, Cai Mingzhao, president of Xinhua News Agency and executive chair of the forum, urged efforts to enhance solidarity and practical cooperation among BRICS media.

Cai said Xinhua will provide 1 million U.S. dollars to establish the BRICS Media Fund for the implementation of the Action Plan to Strengthen Cooperation Among BRICS Media and carrying out pragmatic cooperation, including exchanges of visits, professional training and joint interviews.

The plan was passed at a presidium meeting of the forum Wednesday.

Cai said the participating media organizations all agree to select news stories for the BRICS news reporting award, and continue to hold joint photo exhibitions.

"Xinhua would like to host the first event for selecting BRICS news reporting award winners, and help other BRICS media to prepare the second joint photo exhibition," Cai said.

According to Cai, participating media organizations agree to explore cooperation in areas such as integrative development, video, new media and social media.

Last year, Xinhua established the cooperative and sharing platform "On-Scene Cloud," which can offer its members media content, channels, technologies and other services. "We are willing to open that platform to BRICS media free of charge," he noted.

Cai said Xinhua is willing to provide funding to invite 20 BRICS media reporters every year to visit Chinese media and exchange views with them, and do news reporting in China.

Zenariah Barends, co-chair of the forum and chief of staff of Independent Media from South Africa, called for more efforts in developing solutions to the current narrative which focuses on the negative side of BRICS countries.

BRICS media have the huge role in telling the amazing stories, not only what the BRICS structures are doing, but also the important life-changing stories happening in these countries, said Barends.