The 4th CMG Forum is held in Qufu, Jining, kickstarting a series of innovative cultural exchanges in the birthplace of Confucian culture. [Photo/VCG]

The 4th CMG Forum opened in Qufu, the hometown of Confucius in Jining, Shandong province, on April 25. It gathered around 300 representatives of international organizations, media groups, Chinese and foreign think tanks, multinational enterprises and other fields from 95 countries and regions, both online and on site, who jointly explored the power of civilization in transformation and development.

Lin Wu, Party secretary of Shandong province, said that Shandong will further empower digital technologies, including AI, 5G and VR, to fuel the innovative development of media and better tell Shandong's stories.

Shen Haixiong, head of Chinese Media Group (CMG), emphasized that CMG has been committed to civilizational dialogue, integrating "thought, art, and technology" in its communication efforts to drive intelligent transformation and civilizational progress.

During the forum, many heads of international organizations and media institutions shared their views. Melissa Fleming, UN under-secretary-general for global communications, called on media worldwide to work together to rebuild integrity in cyberspace. Qu Xing, deputy director-general of UNESCO, stressed that international media should ensure the public's right to access credible, diverse, and inclusive information.

Pedro Vargas David, chairman of the Board of Directors of Euronews, said that the series show Crossing Cultures is jointly created by China and Europe, exploring hidden art gems in both regions and supporting cultural exchanges. Currently, the show is airing on European TV networks with a combined viewership of 500 million people. He expressed his hope for the continuation and deepening of such collaborative efforts.

Additionally, the forum also featured the launch of several activities such as the "China Through Its Intangible Heritage" Global Tour, China Up Close: Shandong Tour - The Journey, and an exhibition named Panda Planet Immersive Experience.

The forum was co-held by the CMG and the People's Government of Shandong Province. It extended an international invitation to attend the upcoming 11th Nishan Forum on World Civilizations and set up a Shandong products zone to promote good Shandong products to the world.