KUNMING – The 2025 Media Cooperation Forum on Belt and Road opened on Tuesday in Kunming, Yunnan Province, spotlighting a global platform that drives development, fosters cooperation, and promotes shared prosperity across continents.

The forum brought together more than 200 representatives from 87 countries, including international and regional organizations, as well as 165 media outlets, according to Chinese media. 

The event provided a unique opportunity for dialogue among journalists, policymakers, and experts, reinforcing the media’s critical role in shaping global understanding of development and international cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Yu Shaoliang, president of the People’s Daily, delivered a speech, stressing the importance of media in advancing the BRI. “The Belt and Road Initiative platform is important for multipolar development, humanitarian exchanges, and creating new opportunities for cooperation,” he said. Yu added that journalists should strengthen ties, promote high-quality BRI infrastructure project, and fulfill their responsibility to report accurately on development achievements.

Participants emphasized that media organizations must act as both recorders and promoters of the Silk Road spirit upholding principles of equality, mutual learning, dialogue, and inclusiveness among civilizations. They agreed that joint reporting initiatives across Yunnan and other regions in China would help showcase the BRI’s global impact and promote mutual understanding among peoples worldwide.

Transforming global development

Since its inception in 2013, the BRI has grown into a global public good, connecting Eurasia, Africa, Latin America, and beyond. More than 150 nations and 30 international organizations have joined the initiative, making it a truly global platform for cooperation. The BRI is designed around consultation, joint planning, and shared benefits, allowing partner countries to maximize the value of their resources, industrialize, and modernize infrastructure.

Experts at the forum noted that the BRI represents a modern model of win-win cooperation. Unlike traditional aid, China shares technology, know-how, and capital in ways that enable partner countries to increase the value of their natural and human resources. This approach contrasts with zero-sum frameworks, emphasizing that mutual prosperity strengthens global stability and peace.

GGI and BRI cooperation

Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the Global Governance Initiative in Tianjin, north China, on Sept. 1, 2025. (Photo: Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)

The forum took place against the backdrop of President Xi Jinping’s Global Governance Initiative (GGI), proposed at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Plus meeting in Tianjin on Sept. 1, 2025. 

Unveiling the GGI, Xi stressed the need for inclusive, cooperative, and high-quality international development, declaring, “We should continue to dismantle walls, not erect them; we should seek integration, not decoupling. We should advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and push for a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization.”

The GGI reflects China’s broader diplomatic philosophy of building a fairer global governance system while strengthening development cooperation. Forum speakers highlighted how the BRI, in alignment with GGI principles, provides practical tools for nations to collaborate, overcome development bottlenecks, and pursue sustainable growth without creating dependency.

China-Iran cooperation under BRI

Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept 2, 2025.

Before travelling to China to attend the SCO summit in Tianjin, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian reaffirmed Tehran’s commitment to “serious and constructive cooperation” with China, particularly under the BRI framework. Undoubtedly, Iran’s strategic location and active participation make it a vital partner in enhancing regional connectivity and trade, bridging Central Asia, the Middle East, and beyond. 

Collaborative projects between China and Iran under the BRI include infrastructure development, energy cooperation, and logistics networks, reinforcing the goal of shared prosperity across Eurasia.

Media’s role in shaping global dialogue

Jointly hosted by People’s Daily, the CPC Yunnan Provincial Committee, and the People’s Government of Yunnan Province, the 2025 Media Cooperation Forum on Belt and Road reinforced the media’s pivotal role in advancing the BRI. By fostering dialogue, showcasing achievements, and promoting high-quality cooperation, the forum demonstrated how the initiative continues to serve as a global platform for growth, cultural exchange, and lasting peace. With strengthened partnerships, inclusive policies, and the shared commitment of nations such as Iran, the BRI exemplifies a forward-looking model of win-win cooperation for the 21st century.