Interview: Sri Lankan expert calls for stronger SCO media, think tank cooperation to build trust, consensus

by Xinhua writer Chen Dongshu

COLOMBO, July 29 (Xinhua) -- Closer cooperation among media organizations and think tanks can help Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) countries strengthen mutual understanding, political trust and people-to-people ties, a Sri Lankan expert has said.

Maya Majueran, founding director of the Belt and Road Initiative Sri Lanka, made the remarks in a recent interview with Xinhua ahead of the SCO Media and Think Tank Summit, which he has been invited.

Majueran said the international landscape is undergoing profound change. The economic rise of the Global South, shifting geopolitical dynamics and growing calls for reform of the global governance system have created both opportunities and challenges.

"Many developing countries are seeking a more inclusive international order that better reflects today's economic realities and gives greater voice to emerging economies," he said.

At the same time, competing narratives, misinformation and geopolitical rivalries can distort public understanding and undermine confidence in international cooperation, making closer collaboration among SCO media organizations and think tanks more important than ever, he said.

For many years, much of the global news agenda has been shaped by a relatively small number of dominant international media organizations, often reflecting perspectives rooted in Western political and economic frameworks, Majueran said.

While these perspectives have contributed to global discourse, they have not always fully captured the diverse experiences, priorities and development paths of countries in the Global South, he noted.

"Today, that landscape is changing," he said. "Media organizations and think tanks from SCO member states and the broader Global South are increasingly contributing new perspectives, evidence-based research and locally grounded analysis."

This diversification of voices enables people to access a wider range of viewpoints, compare different development models and make more informed judgments based on evidence rather than a single prevailing narrative, he said.

Majueran noted that there is no universal development model as "every nation has its own history, culture, economic conditions and aspirations, and therefore must choose the development path that best serves its people."

According to Majueran, media organizations and think tanks have complementary roles in this process. While think tanks can contribute in-depth policy research, media organizations can ensure that these insights reach broader audiences in an accessible and objective manner.

"By working together, media institutions and research organizations can provide accurate, evidence-based and timely information to the public," he said. "They can promote informed dialogue, counter misinformation with facts, and offer balanced analysis of regional and global developments."

Closer cooperation can also enable SCO member states to better explain their development experiences and communicate the principles of mutual respect, shared development and win-win cooperation, he said.

Majueran said SCO media organizations and think tanks could deepen cooperation on issues of common interest, including economic development, infrastructure connectivity, energy security, climate change, digital transformation, and regional peace and security.

They could roll out more joint research outcomes and multilingual news products to fully showcase member states' cooperation and development stories.

"Cooperation between SCO media organizations and think tanks should go beyond exchanging information," Majueran pointed out, adding that it should also focus on boosting mutual trust, pooling collective wisdom and cultivating talent for the future.

By amplifying diverse voices and encouraging evidence-based dialogue, SCO media organizations and think tanks can contribute to regional development, mutual understanding, stronger people-to-people ties and a more balanced and inclusive international discourse, he said.

He expressed the hope that the summit would build closer ties among journalists, researchers and policy experts, encourage young scholars and media practitioners to engage more extensively in regional exchanges, and continuously inject fresh vitality into the long-term development of the SCO.

"I hope the SCO Media and Think Tank Summit will mark the beginning of a stronger and more coordinated voice for the SCO in international public discourse," Majueran said. Enditem