Founding members include theSun and eminent agencies from across Asia-Pacific region
GUANGZHOU (China): A new media collaboration network has emerged to link major news institutions from countries along maritime routes covering Pacific Oceania, Asia and East Africa.
The initiative was mooted last month by South, an English news portal based in southern China.
Named the Maritime Silk Road Media Cooperation Platform, it aims to promote exchanges within the fraternity, while facilitating dialogue mechanisms as well as business and cultural ventures.
The pact was agreed upon by editors and senior journalists representing various agencies during the Maritime Silk Road Media Exchange Conference in Guangzhou (formerly Canton).
The event was hosted by Nanfang Media Group, the publisher of South.
It was held in tandem with a symposium titled Understanding the Greater Bay Area (GBA).
GBA refers to an economic and urban zone in southern China, integrating Hong Kong, Macao and several cities in Guangdong province, including Guangzhou and Shenzhen.
Nanfang, Guangdong’s flagship international media body, owns five newspapers, ten journals and eleven websites.
Its group editor-in-chief Huang Can said in his speech that Nanfang aims to become a bridge for China and foreign countries.
“The development of GBA is becoming more deeply integrated into the world,” he said.
“I hope to jointly build on this innovative media cooperation platform and explore joint interviews, content sharing and other models with all partners.”
Adam Ong, executive director of Malaysia’s Sun Media Corporation, publisher of theSun newspaper and website, welcomed the platform.
He shared theSun’s commitment to deliver trusted news while strengthening its online presence for Malaysians and around the world.
“Sun Media has grown and transformed alongside the nation for more than three decades,” he said, hailing the newspaper’s digital journey since 2002 as one of “innovation and evolution”.
Also present were South editor-in-chief Zhao Yang and theSun acting managing editor Himanshu Bhatt.
Zhao described Guangdong as a birthplace of the Maritime Silk Road.
He invited the delegates to explore issues of concern like technological innovation, rural revitalisation and cultural development.
“Global news hotspots are becoming increasingly diverse. However, due to the shortage of media personnel, we need to strengthen cooperation and mutual assistance.”
Other founding members include DAP News (Cambodia), Cairo 24 (Egypt), Fiji Sun, Fijian Broadcasting Corporation, Antara News (Indonesia), Pyi Myanmar News Journal, The Island Sun (Solomon Islands), Suara Timor Lorosae (Timor-Leste), Vanuatu Broadcasting and Television Corporation, Vietnam News Agency and the Yunnan International Communication Centre for South and Southeast Asia.
