URUMQI (Internews): Media leaders, business entrepreneurs and communication experts from Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states gathered in Urumqi for the official launch of the 2025 Media Dialogue of SCO Countries with a strong collective commitment to deepening media cooperation and countering “distorted western propaganda” about China’s northwestern autonomous region Xinjiang.
The high profile event of 2025 Media Dialogue of SCO Countries was hosted by People’s Daily and the people’s government of Xinjiang Uyghur autonomous region on Friday.
While addressing the event, SCO Deputy Secretary General Sohail Khan praised the increasingly vibrant cooperation among member states in the media sector. “We must build our own narrative platforms to showcase the real stories of regions like Xinjiang,” he stated. “The West has long manipulated public opinion with fabricated stories but we are here to counter lies with facts and slander with the truth.”
Li Xuan, secretary, party leadership group, department of commerce of Xinjiang autonomous region, China emphasized the importance of strategic communication partnerships among SCO nations. “Xinjiang is a living testament to inclusive growth, peace and stability. From booming GDP numbers to expanding tourism, from educational reforms to advancements in healthcare, Xinjiang today is not the place the western media falsely portrays,” Li said. “Our goal is to empower media voices from our region to highlight development, harmony and opportunity.”
Representatives from Russia, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan echoed similar sentiments. Anna Fomina, senior reporter, TASS, Russia remarked, “The western narrative on Xinjiang is built on fake ideology, not journalism. SCO media must work together to present balanced, evidence based reporting that reflects real progress in education, cultural preservation, business and people’s livelihoods.”
While attending the event, Pakistani media professionals highlighted the role of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in transforming Xinjiang into a regional hub of economic connectivity. “The China Pakistan Economic Corridor, a flagship BRI project has made Xinjiang a gateway of trade and cooperation,” they said. “We have witnessed the first hand experience and the rising import and export volumes, new jobs and cultural exchanges flourishing in the region.”
Chief expert of communication in Kazakhstan pointed to Xinjiang’s rising literacy rate, expanding university network, and robust healthcare improvements. “The people of Xinjiang are benefiting from unprecedented access to modern medicine and quality education. This is the story that needs to be told, not the baseless accusations spread by biased western outlets,” she asserted.
Aerdake Tabalake, Reporter, Xinjiang Bureau, People’s Daily, China celebrated Xinjiang’s tourism and cultural vibrancy. “Thousands of tourists visit the region annually, marvelling at its Uyghur music, traditional cuisine and ancient Silk Road heritage. This cultural richness deserves global attention and respect,” she said.
The event concluded with a joint resolution to establish a permanent media exchange mechanism among SCO countries aimed at fact checking misinformation, producing collaborative documentaries and training young journalists to report authentically on regional affairs.
As Xinjiang continues to post strong growth in GDP, infrastructure, public health and social stability, SCO media leaders vowed to ensure the world hears directly from the people living and thriving in the region. “Together, we will tell the truth about Xinjiang,” Sohail Khan said in closing. “Not with slogans, but with stories that reflect its reality.”
