Asia-Pacific Communication Forum calls for unity

 Keynote speech session. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

The Asia-Pacific Communication Forum 2021 ended on Oct 24 with a call for unity and dialogue in the international communication arena.

Themed “Communication, Unity & Dialogue”, this year’s conference was organized by the Asia-Pacific Communication and Exchange Association (APCEA) and was one of the most important communication conferences hosted by Macao since the COVID-19 outbreak. 

The two-day event was hosted online with various sub-venues in Macao, Shanghai, Beijing, Chongqing, Guangzhou, Zhuhai and the newly established Hengqin Guangdong-Macao In-depth Cooperation Zone. 

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It gathered over 100 participants from the region, particularly the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area which, branded as one of most vibrating economy in the world, aspires to play a leading role in building an inclusive and sustainable development and have a greater voice in the global mediascape.

The forum indicated Macao’s effort to diversify its industry and take on a more active approach to establishing itself as a cultural and communication hub in the Bay Area

The forum also indicated Macao’s effort to diversify its industry and take on a more active approach to establishing itself as a cultural and communication hub in the 11-city Bay Area cluster.

A diversified range of distinguished communication scholars and industry leaders in the GBA and Asia-Pacific region presented keynote speeches. They included Jonathan Zhu, chair professor of Computational Social Science and Director of the Center for Communication Research at City University of Hong Kong; Peter J Schulz, director of the Institute of Communication and Health at the University of Lugano, Switzerland; Agnes Lam Iok-fong, director of the Centre for Macau Studies, University of Macau; Lu Xinyu, dean of the School of Communication, East China Normal University; Xiaoge Xu, founding director of Institute for Mobile Studies and Mobile Studies Summer School University of Nottingham Ningbo China; Xianhong Hu, program specialist in Digital Innovation and Transformation Of UNESCO; Angus Cheong, founder and CEO of ERS e-Research & Solutions, Macao, and chair of the Asia-Pacific Internet Research Alliance; Jose Carlos Matias dos Santos, director of Macau Business magazine and adjunct professor at University St Joseph, Macao; and Zhihao Ma, special assistant research fellow, School of Journalism and Communication, Nanjing University and deputy executive director, Asia-Pacific Communication Exchange Association.

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Meanwhile, the Asia-Pacific Communication Forum Alliance, which was established during Forum 2020, officiated its three standing offices – the Shanghai Office, the Macao Office and the Hengqin Office.  

The opening ceremony of APCFA Shanghai Office. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

Group photo of the opening ceremony. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

This forum also launched the APCFA workshop of methodology to enhance the methodological exploration of Asia-Pacific communication research and improve scientific analysis capabilities. This year’s online workshop titled “New Approaches in Content Analysis: Traditional Methodology and Innovative Execution” attracted a large audience.

Sponsored by the Macao Foundation, the forum’s co-organizers include Centre for Macau Studies, UM, and Macao Association for Internet Research.