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BEIJING: In the six years since its establishment, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Media Forum has become the most influential exchange activity between the media of China and Pakistan, the two time-honoured oriental nations, Cheng Xizhong visiting professor at Southwest University of Political Science and Law said on Tuesday.
The 6th China-Pakistan Economic Corridor Media Forum hosted by the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Pakistan and organized jointly by China Economic Net and Pakistan-China Institute was very successfully held, he said in his article.
The 6th China-Pakistan Economic Corridor Media Forum was themed “Post-pandemic China-Pakistan Media Cooperation” and conducted in-depth exchanges and discussions on the opportunities for digital media, media as an engine for the high-quality development of CPEC and China-Pakistan media cooperation. He said the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is not only an economic corridor of mutual benefit and win-win sharing, but also a cultural corridor of people’s mutual affinity and telepathy.
At a time when the construction of CPEC has attracted much public attention and achieved great progress, the exchanges between the two peoples should also be steadily deepened, so as to provide strong support for smooth sailing of the giant ship of bilateral cooperation.
As a bridge of communication and an important carrier to shape cognition, the media has unshakable responsibility and can play a very important role. As for how to give full play to the role of the media, I have the following ideas: First, we should promote media communication through civilization. From a long-term perspective and strategic level, the media of China and Pakistan should promote exchanges and mutual learning between the two nations with a high degree of cultural self-confidence, build a bridge between the two civilizations, enhance mutual understanding and trust between the two peoples, inject new vitality into the traditional friendship between China and Pakistan, and jointly make a strong voice of oriental civilization. Second, we should promote the establishment of close relations between the two peoples through media communication. The Media plays an irreplaceable role in spreading ideas, enhancing understanding and gathering consensus.
In recent years, China Economic Net has published a large number of key reports, which vividly reflect all aspects of Pakistan’s economic and social development, creating a safe, stable and progressive image of Pakistan. Therefore, the Chinese people have got a correct and comprehensive understanding of Pakistan.
Third, we should jointly voice Oriental civilization. The Belt and Road initiative is an important starting point for building a community of shared future for mankind. In this sense, the media of China and Pakistan are now engaged in a very great cause.
We should understand the media’s social responsibility from this height. Let’s join hands to tell good Chinese stories, good Pakistani stories and good CPEC stories, be the disseminators, shapers and contributors of the CPEC, and be the witnesses, recorders and writers of the journey of building a community of shared future for mankind, he concluded.
Earlier on Monday, Pakistan Ambassador to China, Moin ul Haque said that enhanced media cooperation between Pakistan and China would help two countries to evolve a correct and objective narrative of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) for both domestic and international audience.
It is imperative for media organizations and opinion-makers of the two countries to devise a concerted and sustained media strategy to expose ill intentions of adversaries and highlight success and significance of CPEC.
He made these remarks while addressing 6th CPEC Media Forum hosted and organized by the Chinese Embassy in Islamabad, China-Economic Net and Pakistan China Institute.
Ambassador Haque pointed out that despite BRI’s universal success and CPEC’s visible and tangible dividends for Pakistan, some voices in certain countries have taken a highly prejudiced view of CPEC to undermine its accomplishments and obfuscate its future possibilities and expansion.
They resort to wishful distortion of facts and fabrication of lies.
“It is ironical that this propaganda is spearheaded by those who claim to be the flag-bearers of economic integration, regional connectivity and transparency and openness,”he added.
He proposed that the media houses of the two countries should undertake a fair and objective assessment of BRI and highlight its universal legitimacy and success for spurring economic growth and development in partner countries.
“And at the same time, the discourse on CPEC should particularly bring to fore its concrete and tangible achievements for addressing Pakistan’s energy crisis, expansion of our development infrastructure and role in socio-economic prosperity for people of Pakistan, “he added.
He suggested that media should galvanise public support for bilateral relations, educate masses about the historic significance of bilateral friendship and its strategic importance for both countries, adding, “No media strategy is successful without stirring hearts of our peoples to the symphony of friendship.”
