Maldives Joins Global Media Leaders in China to Promote Regional Prosperity

More than 400 media leaders, journalists, and government representatives from over 40 countries gathered in Shenzhen for the Asia-Pacific Media Forum 2026. The international summit, themed “Building a Path to Shared Prosperity for the Asia-Pacific Community,” aimed to strengthen cooperation and mutual understanding through collective media action. Co-hosted by the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, Xinhua News Agency, and the Guangdong Provincial Government, the forum served as a prelude to the 33rd APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting scheduled for November in Shenzhen. The event focused on the media's critical role in reporting regional integration, technological progress, and economic achievements to foster public understanding across borders. Representing the Maldives, Public Service Media (PSM) Chairperson Aminath Namza addressed the plenary session, “Stories of Mutual Learning Among Civilizations.” During her speech, Namza urged the global media to shift focus away from narratives of crisis and vulnerability, calling instead for stories that highlight resilience, human progress, and sustainable solutions. Drawing on the Maldives' experience as a small island developing state, Namza emphasized that geographical or economic limitations should not restrict ambition. She noted that small states offer meaningful lessons to the global community, while also acknowledging China's successes in poverty reduction and green development as valuable benchmarks for other nations. The forum resulted in several concrete initiatives, including the establishment of the Organizing Committee of the Asia-Pacific Media Partnership Program and the launch of the “Gather in Shenzhen, Create a Better Asia-Pacific” initiative. These efforts were codified in the 'Shenzhen Consensus,' a collective commitment to deeper reporting collaboration and technological exchange. Beyond the convention center, delegates participated in immersive field visits across six cities in Guangdong Province. These tours provided first-hand exposure to China's advancements in automated logistics, 5G smart manufacturing, and electric vehicle technology at sites including the Nansha Port and BYD headquarters. For the Maldives, the forum provided a strategic platform to integrate the perspective of small island nations into the wider Asia-Pacific dialogue, reinforcing the idea that mutual learning must flow in all directions to solve shared global challenges.