On the morning of September 17, the 2025 Belt and Road Media Cooperation Dialogue was held in Kunming, Yunnan Province. Photo courtesy of People's Daily English client

On the morning of September 17, the 2025 Belt and Road Media Cooperation Dialogue was held in Kunming, Yunnan Province. More than 120 media representatives from more than 40 countries and regions had in-depth exchanges at this dialogue. The three topics of this dialogue are: media working together to promote high-quality joint construction of the “Belt and Road”, dynamic China and the “Belt and Road”, and creative short videos to stimulate cross-cultural resonance.

Yusuf Sharifzadeh, director of the international relations department of Azerbaijan’s People’s Daily, believes that stories about human interests can resonate with audiences around the world. He said that the “One Belt and One Road” initiative is not only about infrastructure construction, but also about the connection between people. Cooperation projects can cover a wide range of content, including joint production of film and television works and the dissemination of traditional cuisine. "I think this process helps build bridges of understanding between countries," he said.

Rao Rahim, news editor of Pakistan's Express Tribune, said that China's vitality is not only reflected in the economy, but also in culture. He said that last year he reported on China's game industry, especially the phenomenal rise of "Black Myth: Wukong" and the widespread global attention it received. "On the surface, it is just a video game, but on a deeper level, it represents the growing confidence of China's cultural industry - an industry that no longer seeks external recognition, but draws on its own cultural heritage and classic myths, integrates them with cutting-edge technology, and then reinterprets them to the audience," he said.

Catherine Gulua, founder, general manager and editor-in-chief of the Georgia Mutavari Media Center, said that people are interested in everything related to the people and want to see the real China. She mentioned that when she posted videos about food and development in different provinces in China, it attracted a lot of attention. "Many people can't imagine that these provinces are so well developed. Yunnan Province and Kunming are the best examples. There are many ethnic minorities living in harmony there; there are also rich greenery and natural landscapes." She said that China is open to everyone, and China is the best example of innovation, development and new technologies, and everyone can participate in it.

At the dialogue meeting, the People's Daily English client released a short video sharing communication plan and promotional videos for "A Shared Destiny" and "Chinese Kaleidoscope".

This dialogue will be one of the sub-forums of the 2025 “Belt and Road” Media Cooperation Forum. The 2025 “Belt and Road” Media Cooperation Forum is co-sponsored by the People’s Daily, the Yunnan Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China, and the Yunnan Provincial People’s Government. (People's Daily Online reporter Lin Rui)

On the morning of September 17, the 2025 Belt and Road Media Cooperation Dialogue was held in Kunming, Yunnan Province. Photo courtesy of People's Daily English client