On June 27, the Shanghai leg of the “Belt and Road” media advance-study class sponsored by China Daily, Shanghai International Studies University(SISU) and the University of International Business and Economics was successfully completed. In a weeks' study and visits, students gainednew understanding of Shanghai and China through communication, experience and observation.

Students at the network and new-media training center of SISU.[Photo provided by SISU]

The six courses offered by SISU's school of journalism and communication, ranging from Chinese news education and Chinese media vision to new media technology, have familiarized these journalists from countries on the Belt and Road about the development and reform of Chinese journalism and communication. Led by the dean of SISU's school of journalism and communication, Guo Ke, the faculty engaged the students in thought-provoking and interactive discussion-based study. Why has China developed so quickly? How does China, as a huge nation, make so many people understand and support its reform policies? What challenges will artificial intelligence bring to the ethics of journalism? During discussion, the journalists gradually answered some of the questions.

Travelling to Songjiang, Qingpu, Hongkou, Jingan and Pudong, visiting Shanghai's various historical landmarks, media groups and scientific innovation centers, these journalists, many of whom have not been to China before, are keenly interested in China.

Students try out training plane at East Airlines.[Photo provided by SISU]

The display of high and new technology is one of the features in the Shanghai leg of the course. Students visited the Changyang innovation hub whose guiding principle is “start-up and innovation”. The developer of the English learning app “Fluent English” displayed how to use AI in helping language learning, a technique that stunned a journalist from Pakistan’s Combat News who exclaimed that it is “turning stone into gold”. During the trip to East Airlines, they were shown aircraft simulation, cabin services, emergency escape, security measures as well as the latest trends in airline services and VR,and robotic communication applications. Rosi Draunileba Tamani Doviberata from Fiji’s Sun news and Obala Roselyne Ndisi from Kenya’s Flag news both wished that East Airlines will soon employ direct air routes with their countries to further facilitate communication.

The group visits Shanghai Yangshan Deepwater Port, the largest crago port in the world. [Photo provided by SISU]

Shanghai’s global trade also left the students with a deep impression. In November 2018, Shanghai will hold the first China International Import Expo and the students went to visit the venue, the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), in order to know more about this event. Jintana Panyaarvudhand Vu Thu Ha,from National News of Thailand and Vietnam News respectively, were very curious about their countries’trade with China and their visit to theexhibition center answered their questions. Afterwards they visited the free trade zone and the Yangshan Deepwater Port. The 32.5-kilometer bridge connecting the free tradezone and Yangshan Port, the largest intelligent port in the world, impressed Poon Sook Yee of Malaysia’s Sin Chew Daily. The automated container operation was also a spectacle. Though he had brought his family to visit China during the proposal of Belt and Road initiative, this trip was greatly different from his prior travel experience as it gave him a far deeper knowledge of Shanghai and China.

The group visits ThePaper.cn, a Shanghai-based media company.[Photo provided by SISU]

This advanced study class also brought the students to representatives of Chinese new media development such as ThePaper.cn and Pear Video. A key issue is the transformation and survival of traditional media, which a lot of the students work in. Formerly Oriental Morning News, ThePaper.cn is a successful case of transition and students asked a lot of questions concerning the difficulties during transition. Pear Video, as a rising internet video media company, talked about how to turn an audience into reporters on the frontline and use the users’contributions to make video news. Students were encouraged to register with Pear Video to become foreign contributors.

Farewell party [Photo provided by SISU]

The school of journalism and communication held the farewell party for the students at the faculty activity center on the night of June 27. After seven days of activities, students became close with each other. For them, coming from 13 nations across Asia, Europe, Africa and Oceania, it is a rare chance to share their understanding of journalism with people from uniquely different backgrounds and cultures. In Shanghai they further appreciated China’s hope to develop along with other nations. They will later go on to visit Hangzhou and Beijing to continue their journey in China.