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With the support of UNESCO, the Media Literacy Blue Book (2023-2024) launch and the Media and Information Literacy (MIL) Development Strategy Expert Roundtable was successfully held at the Communication University of Zhejiang on 14 December 2024. This event was co-hosted by the Communication University of Zhejiang, Media Literacy Academic Research Base of China Federation of Radio and Television Associations, and Zhejiang Province Media Literacy Education Research Association. This conference brought together 150 experts and scholars from a variety of fields, including radio and television social organizations, international organizations, local governments, educational research institutions, schools at various levels, media outlets, and the private sector.

Wei Lu, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Vice President of the Communication University of Zhejiang, welcomed the participants. He provided an overview of the university's educational endeavors and its commitment to media literacy education research and promotion. Wei Lu emphasized that the conference aimed to harness collective wisdom and consensus to propel media literacy education research forward. He acknowledged the ongoing challenges posed by media evolution and technological advancements, calling for persistent effort and ambition. Wei Lu expressed hope that the conference would raise societal awareness of media literacy and attract more intellectuals to contribute to China's media literacy education and the nation's digital strength.

Prof. Shahbaz Khan, Director and Representative of UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia, delivered his opening remarks via video message. He underscored the importance of MIL in the digital era and affirmed UNESCO's commitment to fostering these competencies, as exemplified by the current collaboration with the Communication University of Zhejiang. Prof. Khan stated, ¡°91Â鶹¹ú²ú¾«Æ·×ÔÅÄ long been at the forefront of promoting MIL worldwide. We believe that MIL is a key component of the right to freedom of expression and information. It is with this conviction that we support initiatives like the one being implemented by the Communication University of Zhejiang, which is in harmony with our global mission to cultivate a more informed and more empowered global community that leaves no one behind¡±. 

The roundtable featured seven distinguished speakers from institutions such as the Communication University of Zhejiang, UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia, Fudan University, Huangshan University, Zhejiang University of Finance and Economics, and the Qiantang District Education Bureau in Hangzhou. They engaged in dynamic discussions on a range of topics, including China's MIL development strategy, global MIL policies and practices, the urgency of media literacy as a national education issue, the development of artificial intelligence literacy in line with AI technology trends, rural primary and secondary education practices related to MIL, and the exploration of urban primary and secondary schools' media literacy education implementation strategies and mechanisms.

Zeng Qingyi, National Professional Officer from UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia, presented UNESCO's global MIL policies and practices. She commended the Communication University of Zhejiang for its substantial contributions to China's MIL initiative, including the translation of UNESCO's publication "Media and Information Literate Citizens: Think Critically, Click Wisely" and the development of a national MIL policy and strategy document. Zeng also highlighted UNESCO's global efforts in advancing MIL, curriculum development, and the Global MIL Week activities. Meanwhile, she offered recommendations for China's national MIL framework from aspects such as policy formulation and collaboration, localization of conceptual frameworks, integration into the Chinese education system, digital inclusion for the public, international project cooperation, and innovative practices.

UNESCO¡¯s role in MIL: UNESCO supports the development of MIL and Digital Competencies for all to enable people¡¯s ability to engage critically with information, navigate the online environment safely and responsibly and ensure there can be trust in our information ecosystem and in digital technologies. MIL provides a set of essential skills to address the challenges of the 21^st century including the proliferation of mis- and disinformation and hate speech, the decline of trust in media and digital innovations notably Artificial Intelligence.