The 16th Media Forum China-Germany, hosted by Global Times, took place in Shenzhen, South China’s Guangdong Province, from Monday to Thursday. The forum brought together leading media figures, distinguished journalists, and scholars from both China and Germany.
Under the framework of China’s four Global Initiatives—the Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative, Global Civilization Initiative, and Global Governance Initiative—participants engaged in in-depth discussion across eight key topics, covering global security, green development, and media responsibilities.
These exchanges fostered consensus on closer cooperation, highlighting the role of media in supporting the China-Germany all-round strategic partnership. Notably, this is the first China-foreign bilateral media dialogue held in Shenzhen since the city was announced as the host of the 2026 APEC meeting.
Amid rapid global changes and a turbulent international landscape, the strategic importance of China-Germany relations has grown, given both countries’ significant economic and geopolitical influence. In a May 2025 phone call, Chinese President Xi Jinping and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasized that bilateral ties are built on mutual respect, seeking common ground while shelving differences, and pursuing win-win cooperation. Xi urged both sides to uphold this tradition and further strengthen collaboration.
The forum aims to embody this spirit by promoting mutual understanding, inclusiveness, and cooperation among media outlets and citizens of both countries. It also serves as a valuable platform for media exchanges and collaborative initiatives.
In his opening address, Fan Zhengwei, Party Secretary, President, and Editor-in-Chief of Global Times, reflected on the forum’s development. “Since the first session in Shanghai, the forum has become a longstanding gathering fostering friendship between Chinese and German media over the past 16 years. It serves as a bridge for understanding and professional camaraderie—a warm and sincere story in itself,” Fan said. He added that hosting this year’s forum in Shenzhen brings new expectations and expressed hope for joint efforts with German colleagues to deepen the China-Germany all-round strategic partnership.
Throughout the discussions, participants shared personal experiences and insights, noting that the forum provided a rare opportunity for face-to-face dialogue. Rational, in-depth exchanges helped identify areas of common ground and mutual understanding.
Held alternately in China and Germany for 16 consecutive years, this year’s forum also featured the “2025 China-Germany Media Tour of Shenzhen.” Media representatives visited Shenzhen’s science and technology innovation parks and industrial bases, gaining insight into the city’s development trajectory and its approach to high-quality modernization.
The event also received support from the United Nations, with Siddharth Chatterjee, UN Resident Coordinator in China, participating in online discussions.