Sharachchandra Bhandary ,Shenzhen, China, Sept. 13, 2026 — More than 400 representatives from media organizations, think tanks, government agencies, universities, diplomatic missions, United Nations agencies and international organizations from more than 40 countries and regions gathered in Shenzhen on Saturday for the Asia-Pacific Media Forum, calling for stronger media cooperation, greater mutual understanding and closer regional collaboration.
Held under the theme “Building a Path to Shared Prosperity for the Asia-Pacific Community: Media Consensus and Action,” the forum examined how the media can contribute to regional cooperation, technological innovation, sustainable development and people-to-people exchanges.
The event was one of the major activities of the 2026 APEC China Year, ahead of the 33rd APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting, which is scheduled to take place in Shenzhen on Nov. 18–19.
Media urged to strengthen regional cooperation
At the opening of the forum, Li Shulei, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, said the development and cooperation of the Asia-Pacific region required the active participation of media organizations.
Li called on media outlets to highlight regional openness and connectivity, report on cooperation and development, and strengthen practical collaboration through joint reporting, technological innovation and professional training.
He also emphasized the importance of media exchanges in promoting cultural understanding and strengthening ties among people across the region.
Huang Kunming, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee, highlighted Guangdong’s role as a center of innovation and openness. He said the forum provided an opportunity to deepen exchanges and cooperation between Guangdong, the Asia-Pacific region and the wider international community.
Lyu Yansong, editor-in-chief of Xinhua News Agency, urged media organizations to go beyond simply recording changes in the region.
He emphasized the responsibility of journalism to promote win-win cooperation, strengthen people-to-people understanding and tell stories of mutual support and cooperation across the Asia-Pacific.
International voices emphasize trust and dialogue
International speakers also highlighted the importance of responsible journalism and dialogue.
Melissa Fleming, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications, said responsible media coverage can help rebuild trust and contribute to finding solutions to common challenges.
Konstantinos Oikonomou, senior vice-president of CNN, described the diversity of the Asia-Pacific as a strength, stressing that differences make dialogue and engagement even more important.
The discussions reflected growing concerns over misinformation, declining public trust and the rapid transformation of the media industry as digital platforms and artificial intelligence reshape the way news is produced and consumed.
New media cooperation mechanism launched
A key outcome of the forum was the establishment of the Organizing Committee of the Asia-Pacific Media Partnership Program, jointly formed by 16 media organizations from China and other countries.
Participating organizations also exchanged cooperation documents aimed at expanding practical collaboration.
The forum additionally launched the “Gather in Shenzhen, Create a Better Asia-Pacific” Media Cooperation Initiative, which will focus on technology sharing, joint content production and talent development.
Plans were also announced for the establishment of an Asia-Pacific Digital and Smart Media Intelligence Center in Shenzhen, along with a training platform designed to support young media professionals.
The Shenzhen Consensus of the Asia-Pacific Media Forum called for greater openness, innovation and cooperation to promote regional prosperity.
It encouraged media organizations to pay greater attention to regional connectivity, economic cooperation, technological development and the stability of industrial and supply chains, while promoting the exchange of development experiences among Asia-Pacific economies.
AI emerges as major media challenge and opportunity
Artificial intelligence and digital transformation were among the forum’s key areas of discussion.
Participants recognized the potential of AI and other emerging technologies to improve news gathering, production and distribution. At the same time, they stressed that technological innovation must be accompanied by professional standards, ethical principles and responsible journalism.
An exhibition held alongside the forum featured more than 30 companies from the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, showcasing innovations in intelligent media technology, embodied artificial intelligence, smart cities and smart living.
The discussions underscored the changing nature of journalism, as news organizations worldwide face both opportunities and challenges arising from rapidly developing technologies.
Forum extends across Guangdong
The Shenzhen gathering was preceded by a two-day programme held across Guangdong on Sept. 3 and 4.
Four sub-forums took place in Guangzhou, Dongguan, Zhuhai and Shenzhen, bringing together media professionals, academics, business representatives and other experts to discuss regional development, openness, innovation, connectivity and media cooperation.
Participants also visited cities and development projects across the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, gaining first-hand experience of China’s advances in manufacturing, digital infrastructure, green technology, transportation and urban development.
The visits covered Guangzhou, Foshan, Dongguan, Shenzhen, Zhuhai and Zhongshan, including advanced manufacturing facilities, smart factories and other technology and development projects.
The Guangzhou sub-forum, for instance, brought together about 150 media representatives, experts, scholars and business leaders to discuss the Greater Bay Area’s contribution to APEC cooperation, regional connectivity, cross-cultural communication and the impact of artificial intelligence on the media industry.
Media forum ahead of APEC leaders’ meeting
The Asia-Pacific Media Forum comes as China prepares to host the 33rd APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Shenzhen on Nov. 18–19.
With regional leaders expected to gather in the same city later this year, the media forum provided an opportunity to examine how journalism can contribute to the broader APEC agenda.
Participants discussed how media organizations can help explain regional cooperation, encourage dialogue, share development experiences and deepen understanding among societies across the Asia-Pacific.
The forum also highlighted the growing importance of cooperation among media organizations as the industry confronts misinformation, declining public trust and rapid technological change.
By bringing together political leaders, senior media executives, journalists, academics and representatives of international organizations, the multi-city programme created a platform for dialogue on the future of journalism and the Asia-Pacific region.
As Shenzhen prepares to welcome APEC economic leaders in November, the forum has added a media dimension to the wider regional conversation, placing openness, cooperation, innovation, dialogue and shared prosperity at the center of discussions about the Asia-Pacific’s future.