Webinar: Strengthening Media Cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative.

Organizes by: Friends of BRI Forum- A Project of Institute of Peace and Diplomatic Studies in bcollaboration with In Zhejiang Media Group, The Diplomatic Insight and Global News Pakistan.

Friends of the Belt and Road Initiative Forum, a project of the Institute of Peace and Diplomatic Studies, hosted a special webinar on "Strengthening Media Cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative" on Wednesday 26th May 2021.

To promote strong media ties and professional development among countries as part of the Belt and Road Initiative. Friends of BRI Forum was launched this year with a series of conversations to find and build connections among universities making academic linkages, especially in a higher education institution. Ms. Farhat Asif, President of the Institute of Peace and Diplomatic Studies, welcomed viewers and spoke about the BRI Forum's Friends. She stated that IPDS will continue to host similar kinds of Webinars in the future.

She highlighted the importance of the CPEC project and its importance for Pakistan, which she noted, is a major beneficiary of the BRI, as CPEC is an important BRI corridor. She further explained that the Friends of BRI Forum was established to promote the relationship among countries, groups especially media, thinktanks, educational institutions, academic course linkages, and the most important pillar is Business linkages. Highlighting the importance Ms. Farhat Asif further said BRI is a huge project initiated by the People's Republic Of China.

As of January 2021, 140 nations have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with China as part of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) includes countries from all continents: Sub-Saharan Africa is made up of 40 countries. Apart from that, there is a huge potential existing not only on the land but of course on the sea.

This is a modern Silk Road. A lot of potential existing in BRI projects there are investment projects, construction networks, and communication. BRI is also creating linkages among academicians, trade and commerce, and media groups. Friends of the BRI forum in enhancing these linkages and also building that momentum to utilize this technology. The webinar was moderated by Ms. Ke Ye, the media managing editor of In Zhejiang Media Group.

Ms. Ke Ye, look after the panelist and moderated the session, in addition to introducing speakers, emphasized the necessity of promoting media links across BRI countries as BRI is a...