Africa-Press – Botswana. The 2023-2024 BRICS Media Forum Action Plan has recommended joint narration of BRICS stories by the media from BRICS and African countries.
Officially opening the sixth BRICS Media Forum in Johannesburg, South Africa Saturday, Xinhua News Agency president, Mr Fu Hua said the action plan proposed that media from BRICS and African countries jointly narrated BRICS stories well and also implemented global development, global security and global civilisation initiatives.
Mr Fu, also BRICS Media Forum executive chairperson, said the action plan also called for the media to advocate green and environment-friendly development and strengthen pragmatic cooperation.
“There is a need for the media to promote shared values of humanity, better narrating BRICS stories in the new era and jointly promoting cultural exchanges and mutual learning among civilisations in order to advance the high-quality development of cooperation among BRICS media,” he said.
He added that BRICS countries media outlets currently had significant responsibilities and enjoyed vast room for cooperation. Mr Fu said the BRICS Media Forum played an important role in strengthening friendship, cooperation and people-to-people exchanges among BRICS countries.
He, therefore, affirmed Xinhua News Agency’s readiness to work with associated media organisations in BRICS countries, emerging markets and developing countries in strengthening collaboration and coordination.
“We believe that with our joint efforts, the mechanism of the BRICS Media Forum will keep delivering solid outcomes and march toward a brighter future,” he said.Mr Fu told participants that according to the South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation, over 40 countries had expressed interest in joining the BRICS mechanism, with more than 20 countries making official applications.“These facts fully demonstrate that BRICS cooperation stands on the right side of history, champions human progress and provides greater certainty to a world filled with uncertainties,” he added.
For his part, African National Congress national executive committee member, Mr Dakota Legoete said since its inception in 2015, the BRICS Media Forum had become an important platform to enhance the voice of BRICS countries, championing and promoting friendship, cooperation and mutual trust among BRICS people.
“This forum plays a pivotal role in enhancing the voice of BRICS countries on the world stage. I am also happy that this year’s theme embraces the spirit of the BRICS programme proposed by South Africa, for Africa’s agenda. I believe we should once again appreciate China’s Xinhua News Agency for initiating this important platform,” he said.
He added that the forum was important because it presented an alternative to use media platforms and technologies for development instead of propaganda and warmongering.
Furthermore, he said he was hopeful that deliberations would result in concrete programmes on how media could become a resource for modernisation and advancement of people.
Some presenters also highlighted the need to strengthen the voices of developing countries. Russia’s TASS news agency director general, Mr Andrey Kondrashov, said over the past decade, the forum had become a distinctive and iconic platform for discussing media cooperation among member states.
He called on BRICS media to collaborate in countering disinformation and safeguarding the interests of developing countries.
Chief of Brazil’s financial and agricultural information provider CMA Group, Mr Jose Sanchez said credible and impartial news was crucial.
“Communication among BRICS media is crucial and the member countries should seek sustainable development in economic, environmental and social areas,” he said.
The three-day media forum, co-hosted by Xinhua News Agency and the China Energy Investment Corporation (China Energy) as well as organisations from South Africa, aimed to promote practical cooperation among BRICS media outlets and other African countries.
Held under the theme: BRICS and Africa: Strengthening Media Dialogue for a Shared and Unbiased Future, the forum gathered about 200 delegates from around 100 media outlets, think tanks and international organisations from about 30 countries, including Botswana.The BRICS Media Forum paved way for the 15th BRICS Summit to be held in Sandton from tomorrow until Thursday.
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