The 2018 Media Cooperation Forum on Belt and Road kicked off on October 30 in Boao Town in south China's Hainan Province.

Themed "Contribution by All, Benefits for All", the forum features more than 250 guests from over 200 media outlets and international organizations from 90 countries.

Diverse forums focusing on regional cooperation, artificial intelligence and smart media, cultural development along the Silk Road, and the co-building of a press cooperation alliance were held on October 30.

Ji Bingxuan, Vice Chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, said China's Belt and Road Initiative focuses on the bigger picture, complies with the trend of the times, and conforms to the common aspirations of all countries.

He hoped that media outlets from across the world could work together to spread the ideas behind the initiative including peace, development, opening-up, innovation, and civilization.

Jiang Jianguo, Deputy Head of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that media is expected to play an important role in recording, participating and promoting the initiative, and they are encouraged to strengthen cooperation and report stories in countries along the Belt and Road.

The Forum is hosted by the People's Daily, the Hainan Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China, and the provincial government.

(Xinhua News Agency October 30, 2018)