In ancient times, the Silk Road and the Maritime Silk Road opened up doors for friendly exchanges among countries, connecting peoples of Asia, Europe and Africa and boosting both material and cultural prosperity along the routes. Today, “the Silk Road Economic Belt” and “the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road” Initiative, shortened to Belt and Road Initiative hereafter, has added new vitality to the ancient routes and brought about new opportunities for cooperation among countries.
The Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, which convened in May, 2017, clearly defines the Silk Road spirit which features “peace and cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, mutual learning and mutual benefit.” It lays out the principle of “extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits” and the common goals of building “a community of shared future” and “a community of shared interests.”
Journalist organizations in countries covered by the Belt and Road Initiative have long devoted themselves to guiding their media groups and journalists along the path towards professionalism, fairness and justice, and promoting international exchange and world peace. We are willing to join hands in forming the Belt and Road Journalists Forum in response to the call of the Belt and Road Initiative, further enhancing cooperation among media organizations and individual journalists, giving rise to the friendly exchanges among people of different countries, so that they can all make use of the new opportunities for development.
For this purpose, we jointly make the following four-point proposal.
1. Peace and cooperation
Journalist organizations from any country are equal entities. They shall strive to strengthen exchange and cooperation and to promote friendship and peace. They shall also encourage media and journalists in their countries to take part in international exchange and joint interviews, aiming to provide objective and impartial reporting.
2. Openness and inclusiveness.
We shall stick to the principle of voluntariness, respect different ideologies, social systems, ethnic and religious beliefs and seek common ground while reserving differences. Journalist groups from more countries and regions are welcome to join in exchanges and cooperation for common development.
3. Mutual learning.
We shall learn from each other, share our educational resources, and raise the professional qualities of journalists. Training sessions shall be launched to offer journalists opportunities for professional improvement.
4. Mutual benefit.
We shall follow the principles of “extensive discussion, joint contribution and shared benefits” and carry forward the Silk Road spirit. We shall strive to diversify cooperation areas, raise cooperation calibers, create new cooperation modes, so as to benefit mutually, and arrive at a win-win scenario.
The proposal is written in Chinese, English, French, Russian, Arabic and Spanish. The different language versions have the same effect.
Teguh Santosa 