The 12th China-Mongolia Media Forum is simultaneously held online in Beijing, the Mongolian capital Ulan Bator, and Hohhot in North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region on Nov 24. [Photo/nmtv.cn]

Journalists and editors in China and Mongolia should join hands to boost cooperation and strengthen friendship between the two neighbors, said officials and media representatives during a media forum.

The remarks were made on Wednesday at the 12th China-Mongolia Media Forum, which was simultaneously held online in Beijing, the Mongolian capital Ulan Bator, and Hohhot in North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region.

During a speech at the forum, Xu Lin, deputy head of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, called on media professionals from China and Mongolia to work together to boost mutual prosperity and friendship between the two countries.

China and Mongolia are friendly neighbors linked by mountains and rivers, and the development of bilateral relations maintains a good momentum, he said.

Media cooperation plays an important role in building a closer Sino-Mongolian community with a shared future. Xu, who is also minister of the State Council Information Office, called on media workers from the two countries to have sensible voices, make high-quality news reports and deepen cooperation in personnel exchanges.

Zheng Hongfan, director of the Publicity Department of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region People's Government, delivers a speech at the 12th China-Mongolia Media Forum.[Photo/nmtv.cn]

Media professionals should also tell good stories of China-Mongolia cooperation in many areas, including how the two neighbors have jointly fought the COVID-19 pandemic, he said.

Damdin Tsogtbaatar, a member of Mongolia's parliament, also called on the two countries to expand cooperation and exchanges.

He said media personnel have contributed to promoting mutual trust and cultural exchanges between the two countries, highlighting that cooperation is the only option in the face of challenges and uncertainty brought about by the pandemic.

Han Yunxiang, director of the Inner Mongolian government's information office, said media cooperation between China and Mongolia has great potential.

He suggested that media professionals should broaden cooperation not just in traditional media such as television program production but also in new media, which has developed rapidly over the past years.

More than 100 media representatives from both countries attended the forum and shared experiences and ideas for media cooperation and in facing the challenges brought about by the pandemic.

The forum is an annual event that began in 2010 and remains an important platform for media exchanges and cooperation between China and Mongolia.