The 9th edition of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Media Forum concluded successfully, bringing together key stakeholders from both nations to chart a future of stronger collaborative journalism. Held in a hybrid format connecting Islamabad and Beijing on December 24, the forum centered on the theme "Strengthen Media Cooperation, Advance the Construction of the Upgraded Version 2.0 of CPEC." The event was hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan and co-organized by China Economic Net and the Pakistan-China Institute.
Key Proposals for a Digital Age
Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Attaullah Tarar, drew from his personal journey with China across roles as a student, official, and minister to underscore the enduring friendship. He highlighted a critical modern challenge: the transformation of information dissemination in the digital era and the global threat of disinformation and information warfare.
To counter this, Minister Tarar put forward a significant proposal for establishing a China-Pakistan joint fact-checking forum. This mechanism aims to promptly debunk false reports and enhance the credibility of media cooperation. He reaffirmed the Pakistani government and media's commitment to this partnership and invited the private sector to join in narrating the story of China-Pakistan cooperation.
Voices from Leadership: A Shared Vision for CPEC 2.0
Zheng Qingdong, President of Economic Daily, reflected on CPEC's decade-long journey from blueprint to reality, now embarking on its upgraded Version 2.0. He framed it as a media mission to tell the CPEC story with depth and resonance, positioning media as promoters of development and guardians of the bilateral friendship.
Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan, Jiang Zaidong, noted the forum's evolution into a high-end dialogue brand. He urged media and think tanks from both sides to act as interpreters of development achievements and disseminators of CPEC's successes, thereby building public consensus for the China-Pakistan Community with a Shared Future.
Minister of State for Climate Change, Shezra Mansab Ali Kharal, shared her firsthand understanding of the all-weather partnership since 2016. She praised China's win-win cooperation model and, aligning with other speakers, called for a rapid information response mechanism to tackle disinformation effectively.
Consensus on Countering False Narratives
A strong consensus emerged on the need for proactive collaboration against fake news. Mushahid Hussain Sayed, President of the Pakistan-China Institute, identified disinformation as a factor impacting national security and international opinion. He stressed that facing similar challenges makes strengthened media collaboration between China and Pakistan not just beneficial but necessary.
The forum featured extensive discussions with representatives from leading media houses, think tanks, and businesses of both countries. Participants explored ways to deepen cooperation under the current international landscape. The event was attended by about 200 high-level officials, media professionals, and think tank representatives.
Since its establishment in 2015, the CPEC Media Forum has grown into a influential platform, completing nine successful editions dedicated to deepening media ties and jointly narrating the CPEC story.
