ASBU at 13th Global Forum on Audiovisual Media: Advancing a Fairer Global Media System

The Arab States Broadcasting Union took part in the 13th Global Forum on Audiovisual Media, led by Director-General Engineer Abdelrahim Suleiman. The event, held in Xi’an, China from November 5–7, 2025, coincided with the launch of the Media Partnership Mechanism for the Global South.

More than 300 participants attended, including government officials, international media leaders, heads of organizations, and embassy representatives, to discuss the role of media in global governance and to promote a stronger voice for Global South countries. The forum was held under the theme: “Building Consensus for Shared Benefits: The Role of Media in Global Governance.”

The forum also witnessed the official launch of the Media Partnership Mechanism for the Global South, an initiative by the China Media Group aimed at deepening cooperation among media outlets in Global South countries. The mechanism encourages practical collaboration, content exchange, professional training, co-productions, as well as dialogue and research among participating media partners.

This mechanism was established based on guiding principles that emphasize equal consultation, shared development, and strengthening the voice of the Global South. To date, 528 media organizations from 114 countries and regions have already joined the initiative.

In a dialogue session titled “Media Dialogue for the Global South,” representatives from China Media Group and leaders of major global media alliances from the Arab world, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean came together. Engineer Abdelrahim Suleiman, Director-General of the Arab States Broadcasting Union, delivered a speech emphasizing that the forum marks a qualitative turning point in building a more balanced and fair global media system. He highlighted its role in fostering multi-dimensional cooperation among Global South countries and in exchanging expertise and knowledge, away from the centralized media dominance that has long shaped the international scene.

The Director-General noted that the Media Partnership Mechanism for the Global South represents a pioneering step toward establishing sustainable media cooperation. He described it as a call to adopt principles of objectivity, credibility, and technological innovation to counter misleading narratives and strengthen the Global South’s presence in the global communication arena. He reaffirmed the ASBU’s full commitment to supporting the mechanism’s projects, implementing its proposals and recommendations, and expressed confidence in the ability of Global South media organizations to keep pace with digital transformations and harness artificial intelligence responsibly and professionally for the service of humanity and human values.

Eng. Suleiman added that ASBU maintains close relations with media unions and regional and international organizations, most notably China Media Group. Cooperation between the two sides covers areas such as news exchange, co-productions, digital content, professional training, and participation in major media forums.

He also praised the participation of Chinese partners in ASBU’s conferences and activities, including the Arab Media Congress, which addressed major topics such as the role of media in tackling climate change and media in the era of artificial intelligence, as well as the Arab Radio and Television Festival, where Chinese media actively take part in technology exhibitions and the programs and competitions market.

The 13th Global Forum on Audiovisual Media concluded with the adoption of the 2025 Consensus Document for Media Dialogue for the Global South, which outlines a set of principles and practical steps aimed at building a strategic partnership among media institutions in Global South countries. Key points include:

Joint production and broadcasting of programs addressing shared global issues such as governance, economy, environment, and culture, with coordinated reporting and exchange of ready-to-air programs across different media platforms.
Utilizing the “Global South Media Nexus” platform to enhance the exchange of high-quality news and outstanding programs, and to facilitate tailored collaboration among member institutions.
Employing artificial intelligence technologies in media operations and sharing technical innovations to improve production efficiency, enhance content quality, and strengthen the international impact of Global South media.
Promoting professional training and knowledge exchange through practical communication and training platforms, sharing experiences in innovative production, new media, and modern digital technologies.
Institutionalizing the Partnership Mechanism as a permanent framework for cooperation among Global South media institutions, expanding its scope to support the role of Southern media in improving global governance and promoting values of justice and balance.

On the sidelines of the forum, the ASBU's delegation held a technical meeting with a representative from the Broadcasting Science Academy of China’s National Radio and Television Administration. The discussion focused on training opportunities for using artificial intelligence tools in radio and television production.

The two sides also explored the potential development of joint technological tools to support the digital transformation of Arab media institutions and enhance their capabilities in automated content processing.