Beijing, 07 Nov. 2026 (Xinhua)

The State of Qatar joined nearly 500 international media leaders and industry representatives at the 7th World Media Summit in Beijing, where discussions focused on the growing impact of artificial intelligence (AI), technological innovation and the need for stronger international media cooperation.

Qatar was represented by Qatar News Agency (QNA) Director General Ahmed bin Saeed Al Rumaihi at the five-day summit, held from November 5 to 9 under the theme “Media in the Intelligent Age: From Consensus to Action”.

Co-hosted by Xinhua News Agency and the People's Government of Beijing Municipality, the gathering brought together representatives of around 330 mainstream media organisations, think tanks, government departments and international organisations from 112 countries and regions.

On the sidelines, Al Rumaihi met Xinhua Vice President Huo Xiaoguang to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation between the two news agencies, particularly through the exchange of professional expertise and the application of emerging technologies and AI in news gathering and production.

The summit's discussions highlighted how AI is transforming journalism, creating new opportunities for news production and distribution while presenting challenges related to accuracy, credibility and the verification of information.

Addressing the opening session, Huo said artificial intelligence was reshaping production patterns, daily life and the ways knowledge is created, presenting traditional media with both opportunities and challenges. He called for stronger cooperation among media organisations, wider production and distribution of quality news content and greater investment in technological innovation.

He also stressed the importance of protecting media credibility through rigorous verification, joint reporting initiatives and responsible use of emerging technologies, while promoting understanding among different civilisations.

Meanwhile, Xinhua President Fu Hua held separate meetings with Abdul Hakim, President Director of Indonesia's Antara News Agency, and Yoshiki Kishida, Senior Managing Director for International Affairs of Japan's Jiji Press. He also met African media representatives, including Loyce Mkwayaya Saili, Director of Zambia News and Information Services.

Fu said stronger international media partnerships could promote mutual understanding, people-to-people exchanges and constructive relations among nations. The meetings also explored opportunities to modernise newsrooms, improve multimedia production and expand technological cooperation.

Congratulating Xinhua on its 95th anniversary, Abdul Hakim highlighted the longstanding partnership between Antara and Xinhua, while Kishida emphasised the importance of exploring AI applications in journalism.

Xinhua also signed cooperation agreements with the Gabon News Agency and Lesotho News Agency to expand news exchange and professional collaboration.

At a parallel forum on intelligent media, participants called for greater international coordination to address global security challenges. Xinhua Deputy Editor-in-Chief Ren Weidong urged media organisations to uphold factual reporting, embrace innovation and promote diverse perspectives. Abdul Hakim stressed that technological progress should also benefit developing countries by improving access to reliable information.

A major highlight of the summit was the launch of the world's first bionic humanoid robot news anchors, alongside a research initiative on mobile-phone-based news photography and verification of media content authenticity.

The developments reflected the accelerating transformation of journalism, underscoring the importance of international cooperation, responsible innovation and professional integrity in shaping the future of global media.