Over 200 delegates from 100 countries gather in Fuzhou for Belt and Road media forum

The 2026 Media Cooperation Forum on Belt and Road was hosted in Fuzhou, China this week.

FUZHOU, China – More than 200 delegates representing 182 media outlets and institutions from 100 countries gathered in Fuzhou on Tuesday for the opening of the 2026 Media Cooperation Forum on Belt and Road.

People's Daily, the official newspaper of the Chinese Communist Party's Central Committee, and the Fujian provincial government jointly hosted the two-day forum this week. Its theme is "Pursuing Common Understandings and Shared Aspirations along the Belt and Road". International and regional organisations also attended.

Speakers at the opening ceremony highlighted the growth of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), launched by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013.

Xian Hui, vice-chairperson of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, described it as the world's largest platform for international economic cooperation in scale, scope and influence.

Hu Heping, executive deputy head of the Communist Party's Central Publicity Department, said the BRI now has 150 signatory countries and 30 international organisations, and has produced more than 4,000 cooperation projects. He urged international news organisations to report on the initiative's contribution to world peace and economic stability amid global instability.

Yu Shaoliang, president of People's Daily Press, said media should help bridge cultural differences among partner nations. He called for localised perspectives and objective reporting to counter international misconceptions.

Other speakers included Zhao Long, Communist Party secretary of Fujian and Viasen Zoobramoney, CEO of IOL.

During the event, participating media representatives jointly signed the Belt and Road Media Cooperation: Fuzhou Initiative. The document calls on global media organisations to produce joint coverage that promotes policy communication, mutual trust, and people-to-people exchanges.

The initiative draws on "Fu," meaning blessing or good fortune, the character in "Fujian." It notes that different countries and peoples share the auspicious meaning of "Fu", and that seeking blessings and hoping for a better life are common aspirations around the world.

The initiative called on media organisations to integrate people's shared aspirations for a better life into their coverage of Belt and Road cooperation and turn those aspirations into consensus built on mutual trust and mutual understanding.

 After the forum, foreign journalists began organised reporting tours of Fujian and other regions.