#China #Xi'an #GlobalSouth #Xi'anForum #MediaPartnership

The 13th Global Video Media Forum

On November 10, 2025, Xi'an, situated in the Shaanxi province in northwest China, witnessed the inauguration of the 13th Global Video Media Forum (VMF) along with the launch of the Global South Media Partners Mechanism. This significant event gathered over 300 distinguished guests, including governmental officials and media leaders from more than 40 countries, all united in their aim to explore the role of media in global governance and strengthen the voices of the Global South.

The two-day forum was co-sponsored by several notable organizations, including CCTV Video News Agency (CCTV+), the Shaanxi Municipal Committee’s Advertising Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC), and the China Media Group (CMG), all supported by the China Global Television Network (CGTN). The formation of the Global South Media Partners Mechanism aims to deepen synergistic collaboration among media organizations in the Global South, encouraging content exchange, professional training, and joint productions. This initiative stands testament to the commitment towards equal consultations and the mutual enhancement of discourse power from the Global South, comprising 528 media organizations across 114 countries.

Prominent leaders, such as Asif Ali Zardari, the President of Pakistan, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the President of Sri Lanka, and Yamandu Orsi, the President of Uruguay, issued congratulatory letters, expressing hopes for the success of the forum and acknowledging the launch of the new cooperation mechanism. In his address, Zhao Yide, the Secretary of the CPC Shaanxi Committee, reinforced Xi'an's goal of bolstering communication and collaboration with media organizations worldwide to progress in the media sector and promote mutual learning among civilizations.

Shen Haixiong, Deputy Director of the Public Relations Department of the CPC Central Committee and President of CMG, discussed the pressing needs faced by countries within the Global South. He elaborated on the “Global Governance” initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping, which directly addresses these urgent requirements. The CMG's formation of the Global South Media Partnership Mechanism serves to collaborate with international media partners on pivotal responsibilities in global governance, reinforcing the need for journalistic professionalism, technological innovation, and the fostering of dialogue.

The symbolic launch of the Global South Media Partners Mechanism saw local officials and media leaders joining hands with international guests such as Ahmed Nadeem from the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union and Abelrahim Suleiman from the Arab States Broadcasting Union. The forum facilitated discussions on the accountability of media in global governance, the pursuit of a fairer communication order, and the importance of inter-civilizational learning.

Omar Razzaz, former Prime Minister of Jordan, underscored Jordan's firm belief in unity and collaboration as the means to address current challenges, asserting that the Global South Media Partnership Mechanism signifies a unifying force to overcome regional disparities and bolster the international discourse power of the Global South. Patrick Muyaya, the Minister of Information and Media from the Democratic Republic of Congo, emphasized the necessity for media in the Global South to transition from mere observers to influential narrators of their own stories.

The forum proudly spotlighted significant partnerships and collaborative initiatives, including the establishment of the Global South Media Training Center in Sanya, aimed at enhancing talent exchange and promoting professional ethics in media across the Global South. CGTN also launched three specialized channels—CGTN Global Biz, China Travel, and Discovering China—streaming 24/7 to offer diverse programming to global audiences.

In addition, the results of a global opinion survey titled