Global Media Forum Advocates Dialogue And Communication For The Global South

From Ravichandran D.J. Paul

QUANZHOU, Dec 4 (Bernama) -- The 12th Global Video Media Forum (VMF) concluded on Tuesday with a resounding call for the media to play a pivotal role in fostering people-to-people communication and encouraging greater dialogue on issues related to the Global South.

Highlighting media's role in cultural connectivity, Fan Yun, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of China Media Group (CMG) and Editor-in-Chief of CGTN, stressed the importance of fostering mutual respect and cultural understanding.

Fan Yun also called for increased media dialogue focused on the Global South, affirming CMG’s readiness to take the lead in such efforts.

He noted that artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies could significantly enhance cultural exchanges and facilitate international communication.

Earlier, during the second panel discussion themed “People-to-People Communication and Cultural Exchanges: Opening Up New Horizons for International Communication,” panelists unanimously agreed on the global media’s responsibility to strengthen communication and cultural bonds.

Participants emphasised that media collaboration is essential to addressing disparities, particularly in people-to-people communications.

They noted that joint efforts could help bridge cultural divides and promote mutual understanding globally.

During a dialogue on the Global South, Ian Phillips, Director of the News and Media Division at the UN Department of Global Communications, called for more comprehensive media coverage of countries in the Global South.

Phillips highlighted the disparities in media attention, despite the Global South accounting for 85 per cent of the world's population and generating 40 per cent of global GDP.

Malaysian National News Agency's Executive Editor Ravichandran D.J. Paul shared Malaysia's past and ongoing contributions to the Global South.

He cited Malaysia's initiatives, such as the previous South-South Information Gateway (SSIG) and the ongoing NAM News Network (NNN), as pivotal in promoting information exchange.

Ravichandran emphasised the need to redefine the Global South, moving away from outdated narratives of poverty and instability to reflect the region’s aspirations for neutrality and internal development.

He also highlighted Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's stance on the Global South during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in Lima, Peru where the premier emphasised the importance of fostering stronger connections with the region.

The forum’s second day will feature tours of Quanzhou, a port city with a 2,000-year history. Once a key hub on the ancient Maritime Silk Road, Quanzhou remains an important link in the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road Initiative.

Organised by CMG, the world’s largest media conglomerate, the forum hosted around 80 participants from across the globe, focusing on leveraging media’s transformative power to foster cultural exchanges and unity.

--BERNAMA