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Belt & Road news platform launched

By Kris Crismundo

April 23, 2019, 6:46 pm

BEIJING -- An online news platform focusing on stories about the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) was launched here Tuesday, in time for the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF).

People’s Daily, the biggest and official newspaper group of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, has initiated the establishment of Belt and Road News Network (BRNN). It also led the putting up BRNN’s official website.

More than 30 media organizations from Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America, Middle East, and Eurasia attended the BRNN First Council Meeting in Beijing to discuss and finalize the 2019-2020 Work Plan of the Council.

The foreign media organizations, along with Chinese news groups, are expected to contribute and host stories about BRI.

During the visit of Asia Pacific and African journalists at the People’s Daily headquarters early this month, People’s Daily Online Deputy Director of International Communication Department Wu Chengliang said the BRNN is a fruit of BRI media cooperation forum that started five years ago.

“It will be a platform to share news resources, and also to share our advertising resources,” Wu said.

He added that the BRNN will be a multi-lingual platform – carrying BRI news in English, Chinese, French, and Arabic.

Moreover, Wu said the Council will also organize cross-border cooperation, such as reporting trips, and will also offer training programs, workshops, and technical support to participating media organizations.

“Everyone will benefit from this cooperation,” Wu noted.

Meanwhile, the second BRF will be held in Beijing from April 25 to 27. President Rodrigo Duterte is expected to attend the forum. (PNA)

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