Int'l media forum in Xi'an announces 8 significant media cooperation outcomes

China

Int'l media forum in Xi'an announces 8 significant media cooperation outcomes

2025-11-06 20:30 Last Updated At：22:17

Eight significant media cooperation outcomes were announced at the Global South Media Partners Mechanism Inauguration Meeting and the 13th Global Video Media Forum (VMF) in Xi'an, the provincial capital of Shaanxi in northwest China on Thursday.

Themed "Building Consensus for Shared Benefits: Media's Role in Global Governance," the two-day event gathers hundreds of government officials, leaders of international organizations, and representatives of major media outlets across the Global South to exchange views on enhancing the voice of developing countries, promoting fairness and equity in international communication, and sharing compelling stories of peace and development.

China Global Television Network (CGTN), China Media Group (CMG)'s international arm, officially launched three specialized channels on free advert-supported streaming television (FAST) platforms on Thursday, offering a variety of programming up to global viewers.

The newly launched channels -- CGTN Global Biz, China Travel and Discovering China -- will be broadcast 24/7 across 15 major international FAST platforms, reaching nearly 200 million viewers worldwide.

The Blue Book of Global South's View of the World - A Global Opinion Survey Research was also released at the event.

The CMG, in partnership with Renmin University of China, has conducted a large-scale public opinion survey across 47 countries on six continents. Over 9,000 respondents provided their answers.

The Blue Book data reveals that the global governance issues of greatest concern to Global South countries are poverty, food security, and safety, with over 70 percent of the respondents hoping for reforms to the global governance system.

Furthermore, an overwhelming majority of respondents reacted positively to the Global Governance Initiative (GGI) proposed by China.

CGTN has joined hands with media outlets worldwide to co-produce a special program, "Global South Voices", aiming to break down discourse barriers and ensure the voices of the Global South are heard throughout the world.

To achieve greater content sharing and joint technological innovation with its Global South media partners, the CCTV Video News Agency has independently developed the Global South Media Nexus platform, which empowers the Global South media partners by utilizing high-tech means to enhance their operational efficiency.

To promote media talent exchange among Global South countries, cultivate professional ethics, and explore technological innovation, CMG has established the Global South Media Training Center in Sanya in the island province of Hainan.

An unveiling ceremony of the center was held.

Xi'an, the starting point of the Silk Road, also witnessed a grand launch of the co-creation project: Global South Stories. This collaborative project has already attracted talented creators from 73 countries and regions worldwide. Through their unique perspectives and creative expressions, their stories showcase the vibrant cultures and boundless charm of the Global South.

Xi'an also has designed a special ambassador for promoting this co-creation project: AI digital human "A Yong".

The grand finale is the launch of the Global South Media Partners Mechanism that the CMG had initiated to promote collaborative communication and technological innovation. To date, 528 media organizations from 114 countries and regions have declared their participation.

Established by the CCTV Video News Agency (CCTV+) in 2011, the VMF focuses on video content dissemination and technological innovations and serves as a key annual exchange platform for global media users and partners. The event has now evolved into a premier global forum, attracting extensive participation from media organizations and professionals worldwide.

This year's edition is jointly sponsored by CCTV+, the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Xi'an Municipal Committee, and the China Media Group Shaanxi Bureau, with help from China Global Television Network.

Torch relay for Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Games starts in Rome

The torch relay for the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games began on Saturday morning in Rome, marking the start of a two-month journey ahead of next year's opening ceremony.

The launch ceremony was held at the Stadio dei Marmi, an open-air arena lined with Roman-style statues next to Rome's Olympic Stadium.

At around 09:50, Giancarlo Peris, the final torchbearer of the 1960 Rome Games, brought the flame onto the launch stage. A torch was lit with the flame, and Giovanni Malago, president of the Milan-Cortina 2026 organizing committee, lit the cauldron with it.

The first torchbearer, Italy's Olympic champion Gregorio Paltrinieri, lit the relay torch from the cauldron and then ran a half-lap around the stadium to cheers from spectators, officially starting the relay.

Italian fencer Elisa Di Francisca and high jump Olympic champion Gianmarco Tamberi followed as the second and third torchbearers and completed their relay segments inside the stadium. Tamberi performed a torch kiss with the next runner, Achille Polonara, who carried the flame out of the stadium to begin the route through the city.

The relay will traverse 12,000 kilometers over 60 days across Italy, pass through more than 300 municipalities and feature celebrations in 60 cities, reach all 110 Italian provinces, and light up UNESCO sites along the route.

More than 10,000 torchbearers from all walks of life will take part in the relay, including figures from sectors of sports, culture, film and civil society.

The flame will see Christmas in Naples, New Year in Bari, and return to Cortina d'Ampezzo on January 26, 2026, the 70th anniversary of the 1956 Winter Games opening ceremony. The relay will conclude on February 6 at Milan's San Siro Stadium.

Andrea Varnier, CEO of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games' organizing committee, said the torch relay will strengthen the spirit of peace and hope for humanity.

"Our torch will pass through all cultural heritage sites. So along the way, we'll see both our nation's historical landmarks as well as natural landscapes. But what matters most are the people who embrace the torch as a symbol of peace and hope. Athletes and ordinary citizens carrying the Winter Olympics torch will carry the spirit all the way to Milan," he said.