Strengthening South Asian Journalists’ Cooperation

Jamalpur, Munger, Bihar (India) /  The International Media Summit-2026 (Global Media Summit-2026) was held in Jamalpur, Munger district of Bihar, India, with the objective of strengthening dialogue, cooperation and experience-sharing among journalists and media professionals across South Asia. Organized by the All India Journalists Union (AIJU), India, the summit was held at Siddhi Vinayak Marriage Hall in Jamalpur. Indian Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament Dr. Bhim Singh attended the event as the chief guest, while Munger MLA Pranav Kumar was also present as a special guest.

The summit was chaired by Ranjit Samrat, National President of the All India Journalists Union, India. Journalists and media professionals from Nepal, India, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka participated in the event, including Raju Lama, President of the SAARC Journalists Forum International, and Secretary General Abdur Rahman. Addressing the gathering, chief guest Dr. Bhim Singh said journalism is an important medium connecting society with information, ideas and facts. He emphasized that international cooperation among media professionals can contribute to making journalism more responsible and effective.

Dr. Singh said, “Journalism is an important pillar of democracy. Although our borders are different, the responsibility and objective of journalists is to provide society with truth, facts and accurate information. Dialogue and cooperation among journalists in South Asia can make an important contribution to strengthening the journalism sector.”

Similarly, SAARC Journalists Forum International President Raju Lama stressed the need for regular dialogue and cooperation among journalists from South Asian countries. He said international conferences such as the Jamalpur summit provide an opportunity for journalists to understand each other’s experiences and collaborate on common issues. Lama said, “Relations among South Asian journalists should not be limited to the exchange of news. Cooperation is also necessary on issues such as journalists’ rights, professional safety, press freedom and common challenges facing the media sector. The conference in Jamalpur has created a new environment for such dialogue.”

The summit was attended by SAARC Journalists Forum Nepal Chapter Convener Rudra Subedi, Co-Convener Md. Arif Ansari, Bihar Chapter President Dr. Shashi Bhushan Kumar, Madhesh Chapter Coordinator Md. Sadab Malik, and members Ramesh Chandra Kumal, Azmat Ali, Sushil Kumar Khadka, Abhilash Gupta, Pawan Prasad Sah and Arun Kalwar, among other journalists and media professionals from different countries.

Participants discussed contemporary issues in journalism and the media sector and exchanged experiences from their respective countries and regions. Discussions focused on challenges facing journalism, developments in communication technology, journalists’ professional safety, international cooperation, and strengthening relations among South Asian media professionals.

The organizers said the first international journalism summit held in Jamalpur has created an important foundation for further strengthening mutual relations, dialogue and cooperation among journalists and media professionals in South Asia.

Participating journalists said the summit brought media professionals from different countries together on a common platform and provided an opportunity to exchange views on shared issues in journalism. They expressed the expectation that the conference would pave the way for more effective cooperation and regular dialogue among South Asian media professionals in the days ahead.