First SCO media summit held to promote exchanges

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02:11

The first media summit for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) was held on Friday in Beijing. Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the summit, saying the media is taking on a greater role in promoting communication among different countries.

Friday's event saw over 110 major media outlets from SCO members and participants, exchanging ideas on strengthening their cooperation within the SCO framework.

Officials said that it is to build a fairer and more rational international communication platform in a new era.

Huang Kunming, head of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, read the congratulatory letter from Chinese President Xi Jinping that media should build itself into advocates of the spirit of the organization, pioneers of the practical cooperation, and communicators of friendships between people.

A senior Chinese official reads the congratulatory letter from Chinese President Xi Jinping during the first SCO media summit. /CGTN Photo

Proposed a year ago by Chinese President Xi Jinping in Kazakhstan, the media summit has now become reality.

Rashid Alimov, secretary-general of SCO Secretariat stressed the media’s role in exchanges and cooperation in SCO.

"It's of great importance for our media to establish direct contact and exchange their experiences and ideas, and co-develop their cooperative projects. It will enable us to deepen our understanding of the new changes in our region," said Alimov.

Ever since the creation of the SCO in 2001, various cooperative initiatives have been conducted.

Participants of first SCO media summit signed cooperative deals after the opening ceremony. /CGTN Photo‍

This year, an all-around media cooperation is attached with great importance. As officials said, media always has an important role in linking people and maintaining peace, security, and stability in the region.

Many participants expressed their expectations and gave their suggestions for the future path of media cooperation.

Alexey Nikolov, managing editor or Russia Today said he is positive in jointly efforts, saying that they should start with establishing more bilateral contacts, having bilateral agreements.

The media summit comes just days ahead of this year's SCO Qingdao Summit, with the aim to deepen an all-round cooperation.