On October 25, the 10th China (West Lake) International Conference on Media Literacy was held at the Qiantang Campus of the Communication University of Zhejiang (CUZ). The event brought together Vice President of CUZ and Director of the Academic Research Base for Media Literacy of the China Radio and Television Social Organization Federation, and President of the Zhejiang Media Literacy Education Research Association, Professor Yao Zheng; Deputy Secretary-General of the China Radio and Television Social Organization Federation Xu Jiangfan; former Deputy Secretary-General Zhou Ranyi; Member of the Party Leadership Group and Vice Chairman of Zhejiang Federation of Social Sciences Chen Xianchun; Programme Officer of Communication and Information at UNESCO Beijing Office Zeng Qingyi; Secretary-General of the Internet Society of China’s Committee on the Protection and Development of Minors Online Wang Bin; Vice Chairman of Qiantang District Federation of Social Sciences Yu Zhenhong, as well as a number of distinguished experts and scholars from China and abroad, and representatives from media literacy practice base schools.
Opening Remarks
In his welcome address, Professor Yao Zheng introduced that this year’s conference is themed “Digital Civilization and Media Literacy: Responsibility and Innovation in an Era of Global Coexistence.” He emphasized that as a high-level media university with distinctive characteristics, CUZ has continuously implemented the guiding principle of “keeping pace with the times and highlighting unique strengths,” proposed by General Secretary Xi Jinping during his visit to the university. He reviewed CUZ’s achievements in collaborative innovation and educational practice in the field of media literacy, and expressed that the University will continue to deepen theoretical research, expand international cooperation, and enhance its social service capacity to promote high-quality development of media literacy research and practice.
Deputy Secretary-General Xu Jiangfan affirmed CUZ’s significant contributions as an early pioneer in media literacy education and as the Academic Research Base of the China Radio and Television Social Organization Federation. He noted that improving public media literacy in the digital era is essential to advancing China’s strategies of building a cyber power and digital China. He emphasized that media literacy efforts should:
l Uphold value guidance and moral education
l Serve national development strategies
l Broaden international perspectives for cultural dialogue
l Work to bridge the digital divide
l Strengthen forward-looking theoretical and methodological innovation
to form a replicable and shareable “China Approach” to global media literacy education.
Vice Chairman Chen Xianchun stated that media literacy is an important component of national competitiveness and a key foundation for the modernization of governance systems. In the context of building Digital China and advancing Zhejiang’s “Dual-Leading Strategy,” improving public media literacy holds strategic significance. He encouraged research to maintain a clear academic orientation, address practical needs, support major policy goals, and engage in cross-disciplinary collaboration to enhance China’s international discourse power in this field.
UNESCO Beijing Office Director Shahbaz Khan delivered a video message, noting that this conference, as a major event of the Global Media and Information Literacy Week, is actively contributing to international dialogue on AI and digital literacy. He recognized China’s efforts in promoting national digital literacy and highlighted UNESCO’s global cooperation frameworks and policy tools.
Keynote Speeches
The conference focused on advancing cross-regional, cross-disciplinary, and cross-sector dialogue under the theme “Digital Civilization and Media Literacy.” Scholars from China and abroad delivered keynote speeches on artificial intelligence, digital inclusion, sustainable development, and youth media literacy:
l Professor Chen Changfeng, Tsinghua University — Media Education and Ecological Transformation in the Age of Human–Machine Companionship
l Zeng Qingyi, UNESCO Beijing Office — UNESCO’s Vision for Media and Information Literacy in the Age of AI
l Chuluunbat Tsendsuren, Communications Regulatory Commission of Mongolia — Digital Content Governance in Mongolia
l Professor Jun Sakamoto, Hosei University (Japan) — The UNESCO MIL Alliance and the Current Landscape of Media Literacy Policy in Japan
l Professor Fang Zengquan, Beijing Normal University — Innovative Pathways for Youth AI Literacy Education
l Professor Zhang Wenyu, Zhejiang University of Finance & Economics — From AI+ to Agent+: New Media and New Literacy
l Professor Bu Wei, Communication University of Zhejiang — From Digital Inclusion to Technological Localization: Human-Centered Digital Literacy Approaches
l Professor Song Hongyan, Communication University of Zhejiang — Teacher Training Responsibilities and Innovation in Media Literacy Education in the AI Era
Parallel Forums and Youth Activities
Three parallel forums explored theoretical research, digital governance, youth literacy, family engagement models, digital labor, and community practices. Additionally, the 2nd Zhejiang Youth Media Literacy Competition Awards Ceremony and the Qiantang Digital Youth Showcase Day were held concurrently. The competition, included on the Zhejiang Provincial Education Department’s whitelist, engaged over 20,000 youth participants from across 11 cities and highlighted emerging excellence in digital expression, critical thinking, and creative media practice.
Significance and Impact
As a widely influential international platform in the field of media literacy, this conference strengthened cross-disciplinary intellectual exchange, connected academic research with educational practice, and deepened global dialogue on digital civilization. It further enhanced CUZ’s academic visibility and impact in communication and media research.
CUZ has long been committed to advancing media literacy education. The University established the Academic Research Base for Media Literacy of the China Radio and Television Social Organization Federation in 2007, founded the Zhejiang Media Literacy Education Research Association in 2011, and launched the CUZ Media Literacy Research Institute, forming a national–provincial–university collaborative innovation system. CUZ is among the earliest universities in China to conduct specialized research and educational promotion in media literacy and has developed a distinctive model with international influence.
