Name: Shen Weixing, Deputy Editor-in-Chief, Guangming Daily

Title: The Media must Be Brave, Benevolent and Wise to Boost the Belt and Road Initiative

Abstract

Media Must Be Brave, Benevolent and Wise amid “the Belt and Road” Cultural Exchanges

The Belt and Road Initiative is China’s grand strategy to accelerate opening-up and build a global governance system with Chinese characteristics.

In such a cross-cultural environment the ability to understand, respect and handle differences is crucial. Recognizing differences is first and foremost. Next is showing respect for such differences and for different groups concerned. Finally, we must become adept at handling these differences. In accordance with specific conditions, we should appropriately maintain differences while seeking common points, hence preserving common ground and ultimately achieving a harmonious situation in which the merits of different cultures and groups are shared.

The media must hence be brave, benevolent and wise amid Belt and Road cultural exchanges.

The media must be brave enough to employ its professional strengths as daring vanguard and trailbreaker of cultural exchanges. They must report news that has actually been witnessed and experienced, rather than just hearsay.

The media must be benevolent in its reporting on mutually-beneficial cultural exchanges along the Belt and Road. Media-based cultural exchanges should display correct communication attitudes by considering others and insisting on the moral principles of justice, objectivity and friendliness, as well as on professional ethics and personal integrity.

The wisdom of the media during the Belt and Road cultural exchanges should be apparent in the capacity to be gentle and tactful, and exerting subtle influence. Being a good storyteller through step-by-step accounts that allow for adaptations to circumstances will yield twice the result with half the effort.

Apart from these three approaches, media must pay special attention to maintaining humility and guarding against rashness and arrogance during the course of cultural exchanges.

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