Global Voices Unite at the 13th Global Video Media Forum in Xi'an for Enhanced Collaboration

On November 9, 2025, the city of Xi'an in northwest China's Shaanxi province hosted the inaugural meeting of the Global South Media Partners Mechanism and the 13th Global Video Media Forum (VMF). The event brought together government officials and international media leaders to discuss the role of media in global governance and to call for collaboration aimed at amplifying the voices from the Global South.

The forum, themed "Building Consensus for Mutual Benefits: The Role of Media in Global Governance," attracted over 300 guests, including leaders from international organizations and media institutions across 40 countries and regions, along with representatives from various embassies in China. The two-day event was co-sponsored by CCTV Video News Agency (CCTV+), the publicity department of the Xi'an municipal committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), and the Shaanxi branch of China Media Group (CMG), with the support of China Global Television Network (CGTN).

During the forum, the Global South Media Partners Mechanism was officially launched—a new platform initiated by CMG aimed at deepening collaboration among media organizations from the Global South. This initiative seeks to promote practical cooperation, content sharing, professional training, and joint productions, all while fostering dialogue and research among participating media partners. The mechanism is built on key principles promoting equal consultations, joint development, and enhancing the discursive power of the Global South, currently involving 528 media organizations from 114 countries and regions.

In congratulatory letters sent by leaders such as Asif Ali Zardari, the former president of Pakistan, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the president of Sri Lanka, and Yamandu Orsi, the president of Uruguay, they expressed their best wishes for the forum's success and praised the launch of the new cooperation mechanism.

In his opening remarks, Zhao Yide, Secretary of the Shaanxi Provincial Committee of the CPC and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Shaanxi Provincial People's Congress, emphasized the province's eagerness to strengthen cooperation and exchanges with media organizations from various countries to achieve greater progress in the media industry and foster deeper mutual understanding among civilizations.

Shen Haixiong, Deputy Head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee and President of China Media Group, noted that as the world enters a period of turbulence and transformation, the Global Governance Initiative proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping directly addresses the most urgent needs of countries in the Global South. He affirmed that CMG initiated the creation of the Global South Media Partners Mechanism to collaborate with international media partners to explore the media's responsibilities in global governance, stressing the importance of journalistic professionalism, embracing technological transformation, building bridges for dialogue, and focusing on development cooperation.

The official commencement of the Global South Media Partners Mechanism provided an opportunity for Chinese officials and media leaders to meet with international guests, including Ahmed Nadeem, Secretary General of the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union, and Anthony Green, President of the Caribbean Broadcasting Union, to launch the mechanism together. They shared their insights on the roles and responsibilities of media in global governance, achieving a fairer global communication order, and promoting mutual understanding among civilizations.

Omar Razzaz, former Prime Minister of Jordan, stated that as a member of the Global South, Jordan believes that unity and cooperation are the only ways to address the current challenges and seize opportunities. He highlighted that the Global South Media Partners Mechanism enables media organizations from different countries to overcome regional and cultural differences and jointly strengthen the international discourse from the Global South. Patrick Muyaya, Minister of Information and Media and Government Spokesperson for the Democratic Republic of the Congo, emphasized that media from the Global South should elevate their role from mere observers of global narratives to principal drivers of their own stories.

Nguyen Thanh Lam, President of Vietnam Television, believed that this mechanism would deepen mutual understanding, facilitate experience sharing, and promote co-creation of content while strengthening the voices of unity, responsibility, and innovation for global audiences. Mederbek Shermetaliev, Director of the Kyrgyz National News Agency Kabar, expressed that enhancing communication and cooperation among media from the Global South would help advocate for a fairer and more reasonable international communication order.

Agnes Nguna, Executive Director of the Kenyan Broadcasting Corporation, voiced that African countries are eager to use their own voice to tell their stories and present a truthful and complete picture of their nations to the world. She expressed confidence that the Global South Media Partners Mechanism would provide valuable opportunities for media across the continent, allowing Africa to "stop whispering in a corner and stop begging for a place at someone else's campfire."

The forum also announced significant results in media cooperation, including CMG's collaboration with media groups and universities to establish a Global South Media Education Center in Sanya, Hainan, to facilitate the exchange of media talents among Global South countries while promoting professional ethics and exploring technological innovations.

CGTN officially launched three specialized channels on advertising-supported free streaming television platforms (FAST), offering a wide range of programs to viewers around the world. The new channels—CGTN Global Biz, China Travel, and Discovering China—will broadcast 24/7 on 15 major international FAST platforms, reaching nearly 200 million viewers worldwide.

Additionally, the forum unveiled the results of a global public opinion survey titled "The Global South’s Perspective on the World." Conducted with over 9,000 respondents, the survey revealed concerns among Global South countries about global governance issues such as poverty, food security, and safety, with over 70% of respondents hoping for reforms in the governance system.

A co-production program named "Voices of the Global South" was introduced to present insights and reflections from Global South nations on enhancing global governance. The forum also launched a co-creation project titled "Stories of the Global South," attracting talented creators from 73 countries and regions to share their unique perspectives. CGTN is collaborating with media worldwide to produce a special program called "Voices of the Global South" to break down discussion barriers and ensure that the voices from the Global South are heard globally.

In pursuit of enhanced content sharing and joint technological innovations with global South media partners, CCTV+ independently developed the Global South Media Nexus platform to strengthen the position of Global South media partners through high-tech measures to enhance operational efficiency.

The host city Xi'an also introduced an AI digital persona named "A-Yong," aimed at promoting the city using intelligent digital technologies. It enables interaction with a global audience in multiple languages, showcasing the unique charm and rich heritage of the ancient city.

The VMF, established by CCTV+ in 2011, focuses on the dissemination of video content and technological innovations. It serves as a key platform for annual information exchange among global users and media partners. The event has evolved into a leading global forum, attracting extensive participation from media organizations and professionals worldwide.