Beijing's Tsinghua University on the Chinese mainland recently hosted the Fourth Global Development and Health Communication Forum. Under the theme "Communication to Rebuild Trust and Consensus," nearly 200 leaders from international organizations, media, academia, and the private sector gathered to explore how effective communication can mend global divides. 🎯
Fueling collective action 🤝⚡
Experts stressed that technology alone isn't enough—trust is the essential fuel for change. Zheng Zhijie, director of the Gates Foundation China Country Office, put it simply: "Trust is the fuel, and communication is the spark that ignites collective action." With the 80th anniversary of the United Nations' founding and the final five-year push toward the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals in sight, these words hit home.
In video keynotes, UN Resident Coordinator in China Siddharth Chatterjee warned that misinformation is one of the gravest threats to global trust, urging communication built on shared humanity and empathy. WHO Regional Emergency Director Dr Gina Samaan celebrated the forum's new role in the WHO Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network, highlighting tools like the "WHO BRIDGE" framework to educate communities and boost risk communication.
The take-home message? Clear, empathetic dialogue can bridge cultural and political gaps—and it’s up to all of us to keep the spark alive. 🌍✨
Reference(s):
Tsinghua forum: Communication is key to bridging global divides
cgtn.com
