New technology has played a very important part in media development and continues to bring about extraordinary opportunities, said Shen Haixiong, president of China Media Group (CMG), during the first China International Intelligent Communication Forum (IICF) in Wuxi, east China's Jiangsu Province on Thursday.

CMG on the same day signed a cooperation deal with Jiangsu Province to help restore black-and-white films from the province's past using artificial intelligence technology.

The old videos will be digitally remastered into 4K or even 8K resolution ultra-high-definition films with color. The project aims to help several cities in Jiangsu shine a light on their colorful histories.

"We have to further promote innovation to change the media industry. New technology in this digital era has pushed the media industry to reform in ways that couldn't have been imagined in the old days. There are now plenty of opportunities. Anything is possible," Shen said during the signing ceremony.

According to CMG, similar technology will also be applied to old documentaries related to the history of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

The Jiangsu government also emphasized the importance of further developing communication technology to benefit its residents.

Wu Zhenglong, deputy secretary of the CPC Jiangsu Provincial Committee, said Jiangsu will take advantage of opportunities to follow the new trends of this information age.

Yves Leterme, former prime minister of Belgium, and Siddharth Chatterjee, resident coordinator of United Nations in China, also addressed the forum via video link, praising technology's positive effect and calling for a more inclusive world.

Three sub-forums on topics, such as 5G, AI and the Internet of Things, were also held during the international event.

CMG has adopted a strategy of "5G+4K/8K+AI," to make ample use of modern technology and create best-in-class content.

(Cover picture from CMG)