BEIJING (MNA) -- On Friday, Chinese President Hu Jintao called on media worldwide to promote international peace and development and help build a harmonious world, the Mehr news agency correspondent from China reported.

Hu made the remarks while delivering a speech at the opening ceremony of the World Media Summit, which gathered about 300 representatives from more than 170 media outlets from around the world.
“The media should use their distinctive assets and advantages to convey the messages of peace, development, cooperation, mutual benefit and tolerance,” he said as carried by China’s official news agency Xinhua.
“All media organizations should be dedicated to the lofty cause of pushing forward peace and development,” the Chinese leader insisted.
Hu also stated that the World Media Summit will help deepen mutual understanding and friendship among all nations.
The summit - under the theme of “Cooperation, Action, Win-Win and Development” - reflects concerns about the challenges the global media industry is facing, demonstrates the willingness of all media to enhance exchanges and cooperation and seek common development, and shows the resolve of media staff to commit themselves to promoting world peace and development, he explained.
The Chinese president added, “I believe, with in-depth discussions and extensive exchanges focused on the theme, the meeting will help strengthen cooperation among media organizations from around the world, boost the healthy and orderly development of the global media industry, and deepen mutual understanding and friendship among people of all nations.”
--------- Social responsibilities
President Hu also called on media to uphold social responsibilities.
With media's growing influence on international politics, economy, society, culture, and people's thinking, work and life, ""it is more important than ever before that the media should establish and uphold social responsibilities,"" he suggested.