2025 Media Cooperation Forum on Belt and Road kicks off in Kunming, China – Connecting over 80 nations

On September 16, 2025, a major media event—the 2025 Media Cooperation Forum on the Belt and Road—kicked off in Kunming, China. The forum brought together media professionals from 87 countries, including Myanmar, to discuss how the media can help strengthen connections between nations.

The main goal of the forum is to promote mutual understanding and cultural exchange among different civilizations. The event was hosted by People’s Daily, a leading Chinese newspaper, in partnership with the Yunnan Provincial Government. A key theme was the media’s responsibility to share stories and foster learning between cultures.

A Chinese official emphasized that the Belt and Road Initiative is designed to create a “win–win” situation for China and other participating countries. The media’s role, the official noted, is to highlight the successful projects and developments resulting from the initiative. One example of such cooperation was the rapid response of rescuers from Yunnan who traveled to Myanmar to assist after a severe earthquake on March 28, 2025—an effort that demonstrated how the initiative can build genuine “heart-to-heart” connections between people.

The President of People’s Daily highlighted that the forum offers media professionals from around the world a valuable opportunity to exchange perspectives. Discussions also focused on how the media can leverage new technologies to enhance communication and strengthen “people-to-people” ties. In addition, the forum recognized excellence in journalism by presenting the second Silk Road Global News Awards.

By advancing “hard connectivity” (infrastructure), “soft connectivity” (shared policies), and “heart-to-heart” connections, the forum aims to help countries build stronger relationships. The event will run until September 17, with related media workshops continuing across China until September 24.