Recently, the World Media Research Center of Shanghai Academy successfully held a Workshop on the Role of Shanghai Media in the Construction of the Belt and Road (hereinafter referred to as the “Workshop”).

Academic experts from the Journalism and Communication Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Shanghai Planning Office of Philosophy and Social Science, the Journalism School of Fudan University, the School of Media and Communication of Shanghai Jiaotong University, the College of Arts and Media of Tongji University, the School of Media and Communication of Shanghai International Studies University, Jiefang Daily, Wenweipo, Shanghai Observer News, The Paper, and Shanghai News Center of Outlook Weekly of Xinhua News Agency got together, and discussed how to bring the role of Shanghai’s media into play in the construction of the Belt and Road.

The opening ceremony was presided over by Wu Xinxun, Professor of the School of Journalism and Communication of Shanghai University and Executive Director of the World Media Research Center of Shanghai Academy.

Tang Xujun, Director of the Journalism and Communication Research Institute of CASS and Director of the World Media Research Center of Shanghai Academy, addressed the Workshop and presided over the discussion link. He said that the World Media Research Center of Shanghai Academy followed the national strategic deployment, focused on major issues in the field of media studies in the world, and gave impetus to Shanghai Academy in building itself into an influential new-type think-tank through “words and deeds”.

"Shanghai media, as a ‘pacesetter’ in China's media circles, play an important role in the promotion of the Belt and Road Initiative and the guidance of public opinion." Tang Xujun hoped the experts attending the Workshop would review the development history and significance of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, while contributing their ideas to bring the role of Shanghai’s media into play in the construction of the Belt and Road.

Tong Bing, Professor of the Journalism School of Fudan University, gave a keynote speech. Tong Bing pointed out that think-tanks should follow the national development strategy, and actively understand economic, political, cultural, social and military profiles of 60 to 70 countries along the “Belt and Road”. Based on the theme of the Workshop, Tong Bing put forward four suggestions: first, reflect public opinion by submitting internal references and think-tank reports, so as to improve the decision-making and management abilities; second, understand the media operation mechanism of regions and countries along the "Belt and Road", and analyze the education quality of media journalists and the general situations of the audiences; third, do a good job in collecting and preserving media reports; and fourth, strengthen the journalism education cooperation between China and other countries.

In the speech session, Guo Ke, President of the School of Media and Communication of Shanghai International Studies University, Ji Weimin, Deputy Director of the Journalism and Communication Research Institute of the CASS and Deputy Director of the World Media Research Center of Shanghai Academy, Li Anfang, Director of the Shanghai Planning Office of Philosophy and Social Science, Yu Keguang, former Deputy President of the College of Arts and Media of Tongji University, Zhang Yonghua, Professor of the School of Journalism and Communication of Shanghai University, Huang Lin, Director of Shanghai News Center of Outlook Weekly of Xinhua News Agency, Li Benqian, President of the School of Media and Design of Shanghai Jiaotong University, Chen Liangfei, Deputy Director of The Paper News Center, Yang Yiqi, Director of the Department of Theory of Wenweipo, Wang Duo, chief editor of Shanghai Observer of Jiefang Daily, and Yan Sanjiu, President of the School of Journalism and Communication of Shanghai University, exchanged ideas on the publicity and implementation of the "Belt and Road" Initiative and the role of Shanghai media in the "Belt and Road" Initiative.