Journalists from Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries said media today still carries the responsibility of building bridges between civilizations as they gathered in Dunhuang, an ancient hub along the Silk Road in Gansu province.

"Dunhuang is not merely a geographic coordinate, but a sacred threshold of human civilization," Romanian journalist Ana-Maria-Alessandra Dobra said at a media dialogue forum held on Friday where journalists from China and CEE countries discussed the role of media in promoting civilizational exchanges. "Romania carries a cultural inheritance that is both Latin and Byzantine, Eastern and Western — a unique synthesis that gives us the ability to speak with equal authenticity to the East and the West."

Twelve journalists and media professionals from countries including Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and North Macedonia exchanged views on media cooperation, mutual learning among civilizations, and challenges facing journalism in the digital era.

Dobra said the role of journalists has become increasingly important as global communication accelerates. "The quality of mutual understanding between nations depends upon the quality of the journalism that stands between them," she said. "When the media fails in that duty, the consequences are felt not only in newsrooms, but in the relationships between peoples."

Bulgarian journalist Maria Nikolaeva Nishandzhieva said digital platforms have transformed the speed and scale of communication, enabling stories to travel instantly across borders, while also increasing pressure to prioritize speed over accuracy.

She said media organizations carry "not only a professional responsibility, but also a cultural one," adding that journalists should approach different cultures with openness and curiosity.

Several participants also stressed the importance of objective reporting in reducing misunderstandings between countries. Martin Brozek, editor-in-chief of Czech media outlet Tribuna, said the media should "strive to inform objectively" rather than pursue "cheap sensationalism".

He said objective journalism plays a key role in fostering mutual understanding and building respectful relations among nations, which should be guided by shared humanist values and respect for countries' right to pursue their own development.

Participants believed exchanges among journalists can help audiences better understand different societies beyond stereotypes and geopolitical narratives.