Ulaanbaatar/MONTSAME/. Representatives of MONTSAME - National News Agency represented Mongolia at the fourth World Media Summit, held under the theme ‘Media Growth Strategy under the impact of COVID-19’ on November 22 in an online format in Beijing, China.

In the event hosted by China’s Xinhua News Agency, representatives of more than 240 media outlets from nearly 100 countries and regions, including news agencies, TV channels, newspapers, online publications, and representatives of several international organizations, as well as the United Nations attended both in person and online.

During the WMS, the attendees held in-depth exchanges on five topics, namely, ‘Media Development: New Technology, Better Vision,’ ‘Media Marketing: New Partners, New Markets,’ ‘In the Spirit of Science and Cooperation: Media Response in Public Health Emergencies,’ ‘Media: A Bridge Among Civilizations,’ and ‘Role of Media in Global Development’.

At the event, Huang Kunming, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, voiced a congratulatory letter sent by Chinese President Xi Jinping. Mr. Huang said Xi's letter fully acknowledged the outcome of the summit and expressed the expectations for the world media to better shoulder social responsibilities, build up consensus, and advance the building of a community with a shared future for humanity.

Mr. Huang noted the particular importance of the media's role in building consensus as global changes and the COVID-19 pandemic, both unseen in the past 100 years, are intertwined. He also expressed his hope that the media can uphold the principle of objectivity and truth, make scientific and rational judgments, oppose misinformation and prejudices and be a responsible messenger of public information.

At the summit, winners of the World Media Summit Global Awards for Excellence: Winter Sports Photo were announced. A photo ‘Fourcade’ by Sputnik’s Alexey Filippov was awarded the Best Photo of the contest, as well as the First Prize of Actions Single Photo.

In Actions Photo Series: First Prize was awarded to the Greatest Show in the Snow, taken during the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games by Al Bello, Getty Images, U.S.

In Stories Photo Series: First Prize went to ‘Ice Rink Warrior’ by He Yi, Bandao Metropolis Daily, China.

The First Prize of Stories Single Photo was given to ‘Ski Climbing’ by Jeff Pachoud, AFP. Also, 10 photos were given the WMS Presidium Special Award.

In the conclusion, the summit also issued a joint statement. It reads, “The participants called on global media to share authentic, objective, and comprehensive information in the battle against COVID-19, and jointly uphold the authority and credibility of the media to secure the health and wellbeing of humanity.

Noting that the impact of the once-in-a-century global changes and unprecedented pandemic are intertwined, the participants agreed that the media sector around the world should adhere to objectivity and truth, uphold justice, promote people-to-people exchanges, enhance mutual understanding, and build bridges of mutual learning among civilizations.

In face of COVID-19, global media should focus on the economic and social development of all countries and give full play to the positive role of the media in informing the public.

The participants called on the media industry to evolve with the times and use new technologies to drive its transformation and development, the statement said, adding that media organizations should focus on the use of new media technologies and markets to provide interactive, service-oriented, and experiential news and information services.

This summit has enhanced understanding and friendship among the media and will pool a powerful force for building a community with a shared future for humanity and a better world.”

The WMS was co-initiated by the nine media organizations with global influence, including Xinhua, News Corporation, the Associated Press, Reuters, TASS Russian News Agency, Kyodo News, and BBC.

The first WMS was organized by Xinhua in Beijing, China in 2009. The second was held in Moscow in 2012, while the third summit was organized in the Qatari capital of Doha in 2016.