Technology experts from Macao and the Chinese mainland who attended the Macao International Communication Week 2024, which concluded on Thursday, agreed to jointly enhance the capacity of international communication and expand the application of digital-communication technologies.

The two-day event, themed “Digital Paradigm”, was co-organized by multiple institutions and companies from Macao and the mainland, including the Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST), Fudan University in Shanghai, and the Broadcasting Corp of Jiangsu province.

The report, initiated by MUST’s Macao Media Research Center and Fudan’s Center for Information and Communication Studies, analyzed the digital consumption, digital communication and digital health habits of residents in the two cities

Addressing the event’s opening ceremony, Joseph Lee Hun-wei, MUST’s president and vice-chancellor, said the event aimed to spark insights on enhancing Macao’s diverse communication ties with the international community in a digital context.

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Lee said the rapid development of digital technology has not only changed people's living habits and communication methods, but also has had a profound impact on the social and cultural development of Macao.

He said a main objective of the event is to explore the impact of digital paradigms — including AI, big data and internet — on Macao society and to seek Macao’s positioning in the context of globalization.

Shen Guolin, director of the office of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan affairs of Fudan University, said Fudan and MUST have been cooperating on communication studies for over 10 years. The two universities have also teamed up to carry out scholar exchanges, graduate trainings and joint research projects, Shen said.

A research report on the digital lifestyles of residents in Macao and Shanghai was released during the event.

The report, initiated by MUST’s Macao Media Research Center and Fudan’s Center for Information and Communication Studies, analyzed the digital consumption, digital communication and digital health habits of residents in the two cities, presenting the similarities and differences between people of the two cities in their sense of digital well-being.

The research team plans to carry out the research in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and other major cities in China and compare the results with those of global cities such as Seoul, Tokyo, Singapore and London.

Ji Jiannan, deputy head of Jiangsu Broadcasting Corp, said the corporation has brought many multimedia programs it produced with MUST to the communication week, saying digital communication technologies and approaches have strengthened the cultural exchanges between Macao and Jiangsu and deepened the emotional ties connecting the people in the two places.

The project will include interviews of outstanding representatives in Macao and showcase the city’s great achievements over the past 25 years as well as the fruitful results of economic and trade cooperation between Macao and Jiangsu

Ji added her corporation signed an agreement with MUST in July 2023 to jointly promote international communication toward Portuguese-speaking countries and regions.

MUST and Jiangsu Broadcasting Corp are also working on a special project commemorating the 25th anniversary of Macao’s return to the motherland. The project will include interviews of outstanding representatives in Macao and showcase the city’s great achievements over the past 25 years as well as the fruitful results of economic and trade cooperation between Macao and Jiangsu.

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During the panel discussions, the heads of journalism and communication schools in GBA universities exchanged views on enhancing international communication capacities through disciplinary development, talent cultivation as well as interschool exchanges and cooperation.

Zhang Zhiqing, MUST’s dean of Faculty of Humanities and Arts, told China Daily that GBA cities share similar economic and cultural backgrounds, and should beef up efforts to enhance their international communication capacities in a bid to more effectively tell good stories of the nation.

Zhang said he hopes the cooperation between universities can lead to mutual understanding among young people from different regions in the GBA, in addition to promoting international communication.

Contact the writer at amberwu@chinadailyhk.com