On June 16, the Second Xizang International Communication Conference, themed “Understanding and Support, Empathy and Connection: Enhancing the Effectiveness of International Communication on Xizang-Related Topics”, was held in Lhasa. The conference aims to develop a more targeted and multidimensional framework for international communication on Xizang through three key pillars, namely narrative innovation, coordinated participation, and technological empowerment, with a view to strengthening the reach, influence and effectiveness of Xizang-related communication overseas. More than 300 guests from China and abroad attended the conference. Major events included an opening ceremony, a main forum, three thematic forums, and a symposium.

The opening ceremony of the Second Xizang International Communication Conference.

During the conference, representatives from media organizations, international communication experts and scholars, as well as delegates from universities and enterprises at home and abroad gathered to exchange views through keynote speeches and panel discussions. The event served as an important platform for pooling ideas and enhancing efforts to tell the stories of Xizang and share its voices with the world.

Zheng Dui, director-general of the China Tibetology Research Center, while delivering remarks at the opening ceremony of the Second Xizang International Communication Conference.

Li Yafang, deputy editor-in-chief of China International Communications Group (CICG) and president of the Academy of Contemporary China and World Studies (ACCWS), delivered a keynote speech titled “Innovating International Communication Approaches and Deepening Mutual Learning Among Civilizations: Telling the Stories of Xizang in the New Era with Care and Insight”. She noted that telling the stories of Xizang effectively requires an ability to illustrate broader developments through ordinary people's experiences, with greater emphasis on everyday life and two-way engagement. By highlighting the warmth and solidarity among people across the plateau, communicators can build bridges of understanding through stories rich in human warmth and authentic detail, helping international audiences better appreciate the happiness and progress of Xizang in the new era through empathy and shared understanding.

Yang Dezhi, editor-in-chief of China’s Tibet magazine and China Tibet Online, said in his keynote speech titled “Voices from the Snow-Covered Plateau, Reaching Far and Wide: Helping the World Understand a True and Multidimensional Xizang in the New Era” that enhancing international communication on Xizang requires showcasing Xizang’s development achievements and convey the charm of Chinese culture. More importantly, it is a responsibility of our times to uphold the vision of a community with a shared future for humanity and promote mutual learning among civilizations. To break through false narratives about Xizang, international communication on Xizang must be grounded in historical and legal reasoning. It should move beyond passive responses and proactively build a distinctive and comprehensive discourse system, using historical facts and evidence to win recognition and understanding.

Erik Nilsson, a senior American journalist with China Daily, while delivering a keynote speech at the Second Xizang International Communication Conference.

Manukonda Rabindranath, a professor at the Center for Media Studies of Jawaharlal Nehru University in India, said that what he had personally seen in Xizang was completely different from the narratives presented by Western media. He noted that Xizang has rich cultural heritage that should be shared with the world through new media technologies. He added that after returning home, he would write articles to help more people learn about the real Xizang, which he believed was the responsibility of every journalist.

Scene from the Second Xizang International Communication Conference.

At the opening ceremony held in the morning, seven experts were officially appointed as members of the Xizang International Communication think tank, and 10 outstanding cases in international communication on Xizang were released. The cases covered various fields, including media integration, cultural exchanges and academic discussions.

The signing ceremony of the Framework Agreement on Coordinated Cooperation for International Communication on Xizang.

In the afternoon, three thematic forums were held to explore specific approaches from different perspectives. The three forums focused on cutting-edge topics, including cross-cultural empathetic narratives and innovative communication strategies, international communication content production and value co-creation, and technology-enabled enhancement of international communication effectiveness.

The high-profile dialogue at a sub-forum of the Second Xizang International Communication Conference.

As supporting events of the conference, the Exhibition of Selected Works from Previous Editions of the China Xizang Internet Photography & Video Festival and the 2026 China Brewers Cup–Lhasa were also held on the same day, promoting cultural exchanges through diverse forms. Three days before the conference, 16 foreign guests and international communication experts were invited to visit various parts of Xizang. Through on-site visits and exchanges, they gained a deeper understanding and personal experience of Xizang’s economic and social development, cultural preservation and ecological conservation.

At the opening ceremony of the Second Xizang International Communication Conference, selected dances from Zhaxi Shabdro, China’s first tap dance drama, were presented to the participants.