The 2nd International Communication Conference on Xizang was held in Lhasa, drawing nearly 300 journalists and scholars from all over the world. The conference aims to present a genuine picture of modern Xizang to the globe and remove long-standing biased perceptions.
The event built a long-term communication cooperation platform with universities and think tanks, set up a professional expert think tank, released a host of high-quality overseas communication works, and created a permanent exchange venue to facilitate dialogue among media practitioners worldwide.
Journalists at the conference widely pointed out that many Western media fail to report objectively about Xizang. Compared with rigid promotional materials, short videos and mini-stories featuring the daily lives of herdsmen and ordinary local residents resonate better with audiences across nations and bridge cultural gaps.
Having operated in Africa for many years, Africa Times has noticed that people in South Africa and Southern Africa hold very limited knowledge of Xizang. Most only know about its snow mountains and monasteries, with little awareness of local improvements in people’s livelihoods, ecological conservation, economic development and traditional cultural preservation, leaving them vulnerable to misleading false information.
Chinese-language media in Africa act as a vital link connecting China and Africa. Moving forward, our newspaper will launch bilingual articles, pictures and short videos tailored to African audiences to objectively share the real development of Xizang and fill the void of impartial local coverage about Xizang across Africa.
Experts on site said China and Africa share profound friendly ties, and African people prefer authentic stories about people’s livelihoods, ecological protection and cultural tourism. Media focusing on ordinary people’s life changes can effectively reduce misunderstandings and boost mutual comprehension between the two civilizations.
Relevant officials of Xizang introduced that the region has kept opening wider to the outside world and achieved remarkable progress in agriculture, animal husbandry, cultural tourism and plateau ecological protection. African media are sincerely invited to visit, conduct field interviews and witness the brand-new look of the snow plateau in person.
By Quan Liang / Journalist