Global health communication forum at Tsinghua focuses on empathy

Themed "Media for Empathy and Equity," the 3rd Global Development and Health Communication Forum was held on Oct 19 at Tsinghua University in Beijing.

The forum, joined with over 150 global government officials, NGO leaders, and experts from academia, media, and the business sectors, highlighted the crucial role of media in achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, focusing on how digital media contributes to a more inclusive and equitable world.

Yang Bin, vice-president of Tsinghua University, said when addressing the opening remarks: "The rapid development of technology is transforming our lives at an unprecedented pace. The global health and development inequalities are becoming more pronounced, and the world is facing severe challenges in achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. In confronting these global issues, the role of communication is becoming increasingly critical."

Zhou Qing'an, dean of the School of Journalism and Communication at Tsinghua University, said in an exclusive interview with China Daily that "the ongoing collaborations to promote global health and development through communication are significant."

"The commitment of Tsinghua University to serving as a hub for academic research, international exchange, and capacity building in the field of health communication will not be changed," Zhou said.

"We believe that empathy is the key to communication as it connects the feelings of people from different areas, even from afar. On the institutional level, equity enhances the efficacy of policy and benefits for more people," he added.

Zheng Zhijie, Director of the China Country Office of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, said the importance of empathy throughout history and its role in driving global health and development goals. He called for collective efforts to harness the power of communication to reshape empathy and promote a healthy and fair world.

The plenary forum featured two-panel discussions where domestic and international experts shared insights.

Huang Shan, Senior Advisor of Caixin Media, moderated the panel, which included communications leaders from the World Health Organization, The Global Fund, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Panelists discussed how their organizations focus on reducing inequalities and the role of media in building cross-border cooperation.

The second panel discussion highlighted efforts by organizations like the Chinese Association of STD & AIDS Prevention, Tencent, and CGTN to share impactful stories and promote global health and development. Panelists emphasized the need for deeper interdisciplinary cooperation in addressing challenges faced by media in the digital age.

The forum also introduced a Virtual Reality (VR) Experience Zone, which allowed participants to immerse themselves in the daily work of front line healthcare workers in Zambia. This provided a unique perspective on their contributions to the global fight to eradicate polio. The immersive experience helped enhance the audience's understanding of and support for global health initiatives.

The two sub-forums are on topics such as empowering health equity advocacy through media technology and the power of storytelling in bridging global divides. Experts from academia, industry, and international organizations explored how new technologies like AI and VR can help achieve health equity and how storytelling can foster empathy and understanding across diverse audiences.