QINGDAO — Vice-Premier Liu Yandong on June 6 called on Asian media to expand cooperation.

Liu was speaking at the opening ceremony of the 2017 Asia Media Summit in Qingdao in East China’s Shandong province.

The media play an irreplaceable role in advancing economic and social development, promoting cross-cultural exchange and safeguarding world peace and security, Liu said. There has been an increasing demand for closer media cooperation in the current world of great changes, said Liu.

She expressed hope that various media in Asia should uphold peaceful cooperation, openness and tolerance, and learning from each other; respect different development paths in different countries and cultural diversity.

They should also increase their sense of social responsibility, contribute to social progress and improve people-to-people exchanges, Liu said.

She called on Asian media to improve bilateral or multilateral dialogue mechanism, expand cooperation and help boost the development level and influence of media outlets in the developing countries.

The summit was attended by more than 450 representatives from 48 countries and seven international organizations.