The Academic Conference of the Journalism and Communication Sub-Committee of South and Southeast Asian University Network (S&SE Asian UN), themed "Communication Empowering Regional Development", was held at Yunnan University (YNU) on the morning of Nov 1.

The conference was attended by Chen Keqing, Vice President of YNU – who delivered a speech – and Zhang Ying, Deputy Director of Yunnan Media Group (YMG) – who participated in the roundtable meeting and delivered remarks. More than 100 participants, including experts and scholars from China, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Singapore, Nepal, and the Philippines, as well as relevant school leaders, teachers, and student representatives, gathered at YNU to discuss various issues related to how communication can empower high-quality regional development.

The Academic Conference of the Journalism and Communication Sub-Committee of S&SE Asian UN is held at YNU. [Photo/ynu.edu.cn]

Yang Zhou, Party Secretary of the School of Journalism at YNU, presided over the conference. At the opening of the meeting, Chen warmly welcomed all distinguished guests and expressed sincere gratitude. He emphasized that YNU remains committed to serving the nation, particularly the border regions, and advancing the development of South and Southeast Asia. The conference aims to inspire youth through academic dialogue, broaden industry-university-research cooperation, improve the joint research mechanisms, and promote curriculum sharing and student exchanges. The goal is to establish the Journalism and Communication Sub-Committee as an intellectual driver of regional development and to contribute meaningful academic support toward building a China-South and Southeast Asia community with a shared future.

Some guests from the S&SE Asian UN delivered speeches in turn. Qi Bin, Vice President of Krirk University (KRU) in Thailand, stated that the special occasion of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Thailand presents a unique opportunity. He emphasized that exploring communication to empower regional development is essentially discovering new avenues for mutual learning among civilizations. Qi Bin also expressed hope for productive collaboration with YNU and other Chinese universities to encourage the free flow of innovative elements – such as knowledge, technology, and talent – foster new pathways for an innovative ecosystem, and achieve truly empowering communication.

Khin Thida Nyein, head of the National Management Degree College in Myanmar, discussed the college's development, discipline-building efforts, and the ongoing exchange and cooperation programs with YNU. Laxman Datt Pant, visiting professor at Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University in Georgia, highlighted misinformation and disinformation as pressing challenges. He noted that inclusive communication fosters peace and progress and hoped for future discussions on ethical standards in communication and media.

Taiabur Rahman, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at Dhaka University in Bangladesh, pointed out that the media is the fourth pillar of a country and plays a crucial role in overseeing national affairs. Professor Shirantha Heenkenda, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura in Sri Lanka, discussed how communication can serve as a powerful catalyst for regional development.

During the keynote speech session, Wu Fei, Director of the Center for International Communication Studies at Zhejiang University and Chairman of the International Communication Professional Committee of the Chinese Association for History of Journalism and Mass Communication (CAHJC), delivered a speech titled "Global Communion: Exploring the Philosophical Foundation of a New Theoretical Paradigm for International Communication".

He noted that the advent of deep globalization has led to conflicts among civilizations, economies, and values. He proposed global communion, emphasizing the importance of harmony without uniformity and the philosophy that all civilizations can appreciate each other's beauty while valuing their own, thus achieving common development.

Professor Zhang Yuqiang from Communication University of China delivered a speech titled "What Problems? A Brief Discussion on the Attribution of Issues in International Communication". Centering on how communication can withstand global uncertainty, he pointed out that China’s international communication capacity has steadily improved and that the country's engagement with the world has reached a more in-depth phase. In this context, he put forward three key expectations for international communication: strategic goals need to be further clarified; the communication landscape is expanding toward local and multi-subject participation, making effective outcomes increasingly challenging to achieve; and, given the difficulty in achieving global consensus, it is essential to construct new, orderly information that carries authority and is recognized uniformly.

Professor Hu Yiqing, Standing Director of CAHJC, chairman of the Professional Committee for the Study of the History of Journalism and Communication Thought, and Vice Dean of the Institute of Advanced Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences at Nanjing University, delivered a speech titled "On the Media Technology Dimension of International Communication Research". He elaborated on his views from three aspects: the insufficient attention to media technology in international communication research, the "chaos" (i.e., uncertainty) caused by infrastructure development, and the strategic transformation underway in international communication.

Chen Jingjing, Vice Dean of the School of Journalism at YNU, pointed out at the conference that Yunnan is a borderland of China and a frontier for opening up to the outside world. Based in Yunnan, it is essential to conduct down-to-earth research. She emphasized the importance of conducting practical research rooted in Yunnan's unique context. Using her own paper as an example, she highlighted current research gaps and outlined new directions for future studies in international communication.

At the event, Professor Manoj Jinadasa, head of the Department of Mass Communication at the University of Kelaniya in Sri Lanka, highlighted that the partnership between China and Sri Lanka has evolved through trade and cultural exchanges, forging a profound friendship. As a new internet medium, the Digital Silk Road has enabled digital social media to reflect diverse perspectives, discussions, and news narratives.

Professor Zin Mar Kyaw, head of the Journalism Department at the National Management Degree College in Myanmar, addressed the topic "Information Literacy Development Initiative for S&SE Asian UN". She observed that the proliferation of AI-generated content is making it increasingly difficult to distinguish between true and false information. As people are constantly exposed to large amounts of misleading material, both the public and governments face significant challenges in differentiating types of information. In this context, media information literacy is more important than ever.

Associate Professor Li Zhenxing, head of the Communication Department at the Singapore University of Social Sciences, stated that the media industry is moving toward a more AI-driven direction, which will profoundly impact future social strategies. He pointed out that AI will not limit our thinking; on the contrary, it can greatly stimulate human creativity. He also expressed hope for future collaboration with China to jointly open a new chapter.

The Academic Conference of the Journalism and Communication Sub-Committee of S&SE Asian UN is held at YNU. [Photo/ynu.edu.cn]

Associate Professor Violet B. Valdez, founding Director of the Asian Center for Journalism at Ateneo de Manila University in the Philippines, discussed the uneven distribution of communication resources and the inequality in global news flow. She pointed out that the Asian journalism industry is striving to address these imbalances through initiatives such as establishing Asian news networks and reshaping journalism education, aiming to strengthen intra-regional cultural exchanges and enhance the region's communicative influence.

Assistant Professor Soumik Pal from the Department of Political Science and Sociology at North South University in Bangladesh delivered remarks on media practices and media education amid technological and social transformations. He stated that media practices and journalism are facing unprecedented attacks. Indian media are entangled in partisan disputes, while also confronting challenges such as biased reporting from Western media outlets. He observed that the media's role has shifted from information dissemination to serving the interests of capital. Accordingly, he argued that maintaining media independence and considering the feasibility of building alternative media ecosystems merit further reflection.

Wu Fei, Director of the International Communication Research Center of Zhejiang University, delivers a speech at the event. [Photo/ynu.edu.cn]

In the afternoon, the events continued simultaneously at YMG and the Journalism School at YNU. Media representatives from YMG, Yunnan International Communication Center for South and Southeast Asia, and Yunnan Branch of Xinhuanet, as well as teachers and students from the Journalism School who participated in practical training and research in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka this summer, held roundtable discussions on three themes respectively: "Regional International Communication in the New Era: Exploration and Outlook of Yunnan Media", "Media and University Development in Bangladesh and China-Bangladesh Exchanges", and "Media and University Development in Sri Lanka and China-Sri Lanka Exchanges".

Zhang Ying introduced the YMG's international communication initiatives and offered suggestions and directions for future collaboration with universities. She proposed launching an International Youth Communicator Program, selecting both Chinese and international students to co-develop, nurture, and support regional development. She also recommended establishing a regular cooperation mechanism and exploring the innovative use of cutting-edge communication technologies. Additionally, Zhang advocated for the creation of international communication workshops, with editors and journalists participating in classrooms and university experts acting as media consultants. Collaborative teams could focus on international communication topics to produce high-quality content, thereby contributing to building a community with a shared future among neighboring countries. Guests from Bangladesh and Sri Lanka at the conference commented on the students' research papers and provided suggestions for further research.

Three parallel sub-forums – "Ethics, Technology and Sustainable Development in Cross-Cultural Communication", "Cross-Cultural Communication and Regional Connection in the Digital Age", and "Participatory Communication and Diversified Paths for Local Development" – were held simultaneously at the Journalism School of YNU. Nearly 30 researchers from home and abroad exchanged ideas on the sub-forum themes.

This conference was hosted by the Journalism and Communication Sub-Committee of S&SE Asian UN and the Journalism School of YNU, and co-organized by Lancang & Mekong International Channel of YMG, the National Management Degree College in Myanmar, and KRU.