Participants attend the Dialogue on the International Image Innovation of the CPC (2024) and the Workshop and Exchanges for the Heads of Media Affairs of Global Political Parties, in Beijing, April 23, 2024. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]
The Dialogue on the International Image Innovation of the CPC (2024) and the Workshop and Exchanges for the Heads of Media Affairs of Global Political Parties were held in Beijing on Tuesday. The event focused on the theme "China's Path to Modernization: China's New Development and The World's New Opportunities." In total, 30 heads of publicity and media affairs of political parties from 25 countries attended, along with around 90 other participants from politics, media outlets, universities and other sectors.
The event was co-organized by China International Communications Group (CICG) and the Bureau of Public Information and Communication of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee (IDCPC).
Presided over by Wang Xiaohui, editor-in-chief of the China Internet Information Center, the dialogue aimed to strengthen international media collaboration and enhance understanding of China's modernization efforts among global political parties.
Chen Shi, deputy editor-in-chief of CICG and director of the CICG China Center for International Communication Development, said that Chinese modernization combines universal aspects of modernization with unique characteristics shaped by China's specific conditions.
She further noted: "As a major contributor to global development, China enhances stability in an uncertain world. To truly understand China, one must understand the Communist Party of China and Chinese modernization.”
"Discussions like today's dialogue will deepen the exchange of experiences in governance among nations, enhance the leadership capabilities of political parties, and are of great significance for advancing national development and building a community with a shared future for mankind," she added.
Hu Zhaoming, spokesperson of the IDCPC and director-general of the Bureau of Public Information and Communication of the IDCPC, emphasized the necessity for developing nations to reject blind faith in the Western development model. Instead, they should bolster confidence in their own paths, challenge hegemonic narratives and assert their voices on the global stage.
He recommended visiting China, engaging with Chinese media and increasing exchanges with the CPC to better understand China's path.
The spokesperson added that media exchanges and collaboration provide a new channel for mutual learning between the CPC and political parties worldwide, which are crucial for deepening mutual understanding.
Daudh Ahmed, deputy minister of transport and civil aviation and media coordinator of the People's National Congress of the Maldives, praised the equitable partnership between China and the Maldives. He remarked, "Despite our modest size, China has consistently treated us with the dignity of equals, exemplifying a partnership built on mutual respect and shared principles."
He further elaborated on numerous collaborative projects between the two nations, emphasizing their significance. "All these projects are a testament to our shared commitment to enhancing the quality of life for the people," he said. "They align with the core principles of Chinese-style modernization, which include high-quality development, achieving common prosperity, harmonious co-existence between humanity and nature, and a shared future for humankind."
Ahmed also noted that the partnership provides a stable foundation that enhances the Maldives' appeal as an economic hub in South Asia and an attractive investment destination, demonstrating the global opportunities that arise from Chinese modernization.
Following the keynote speeches, participants engaged in themed discussions centered on high-quality development and the communication strategies of political parties.
Fai Mesa, a member of the Committee of Public Communication at the Youth House for Cambodia-China Friendship, praised China's emphasis on high-quality development. He said, "The plan of the Chinese government and the CPC, to go for the high-quality development, by focusing on the quality to achieve greater efficiency, equity, green development and security, is somewhat undeniably a leading initiative for humanity as a whole."
Mesa further highlighted China's credibility and influence in fostering modernization globally, adding, "So far, China has been playing a very important role with big credibility in leading the modernization, other initiatives with its own characteristic, and helping other developing countries to be more developed in many possible ways. Thus, high-quality development is another new hope for the developing countries around the world for their people in the long-term."
Rosa Valiente Argudo, a member of the Political Commission of the Central Committee of the Spanish Communist Party (PCE) and deputy chair of the "Ideological Area" of the PCE, discussed how technology reshapes political communication. She said, "We have been experiencing a massive technological revolution that has changed the way we interact, get informed and express ourselves. Social media, while not replacing audiovisual content, broadens its platform."