“Development requires the media’s role in communicating policies and providing timely information to guide public decisions.”
The First Global South Media and Think Tank Summit has ended in São Paulo, Brazil. The Forum started on Monday, November 11, 2024.
Speaking at the forum, the Brazilian President, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, called for collective action to combat fake news and emphasized the importance of quality media education for the public.
This, he explained, was the surest way people could have access to meaningful information to guide their decisions, especially in the Global South where there is a push to enhance civilization through mutual respect and cooperation by utilizing modern media technologies.
According to President Lula, there was a need to develop initiatives that enhance solidarity and cooperation among Global South nations, thereby building a community with a shared future for all of humanity.
The forum, themed “Development and Revitalization: A New Journey for the Global South,” brought together over 350 representatives from 170 media organizations, think tanks, governments, academics, and enterprises across more than 70 countries and regions.
The Summit offered participants a platform for meaningful dialogue and exchange, fostering cooperation and shaping a shared future among Global South countries. It also served as a dynamic space for cultural and knowledge exchange, driving progress across the Global South. By encouraging collaboration, the Summit sought to advance development goals, particularly in poverty alleviation and improving access to essential, timely information needed to support growth and innovation.
In a speech delivered on his behalf, Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed his commitment to helping the Global South achieve its rightful position in the community of nations, thereby advancing its civilization.
According to him, countries in the Global South, which are primarily developing nations, cannot achieve development on their own. Instead, they require cooperation and the sharing of ideas and resources to address the challenges confronting the Global South, including poverty and environmental issues.
President Xi Jinping affirmed China’s commitment to implementing policies and programs that will assist countries in the Global South in expanding their economies, which collectively represent 60 per cent of the global economy.
“The expansion,” he said, “will involve modern technologies to support countries, including the media. Development requires the media’s role in communicating policies and providing timely information to guide public decisions.”
He indicated that China has been able to make progress largely through the adoption of modernity including technologies and that there is no way the Global South could couch a new civilization without learning newer ways of doing things.
“New technologies will not only assist the media in addressing the issue of fake news, which undermines public access to quality information but will also enable media outlets to reach larger audiences more efficiently with their messages,” stated the Chinese President.
The Summit, organized by Xinhua News Agency in collaboration with the Brazil Communication Company (EBC), addressed key topics such as “Cooperation and Mutual Benefit: Jointly Promoting New Development in the Global South;” “Openness and Inclusiveness: Unveiling a New Chapter in Civilizational Exchange;” and, “Exploration and Innovation: Preparing for New Challenges in the All-Media Era.”
Story: Correspondent
