The Asia-Pacific Communication Forum 2021, organized by the Asia-Pacific Communication and Exchange Association (APCEA), called for a unity and dialogue in the international communication arena in its two-day conference between October 23-24.One of the most important communication conferences hosted by Macau since the COVID-19 outbreak, the Forum was hosted online with various sub-venues in Macau, Shanghai, Beijing, Chongqing, Guangzhou, Zhuhai and the newly established Hengqin Guangdong-Macau In-depth Cooperation Zone. It gathered over 100 participants in the region, particularly in the Greater Bay Area (GBA) which, branded as one of most vibrating economy in the world, aspires to play a leading role in building an inclusive and sustainable development and have a greater voice in the global mediascape. The Forum also indicated Macao’s effort to diversify its industry and take on a more active approach to establishing itself as a cultural and communication hub in the GBA. The keynote speeches featured a diversified range of distinguished communication scholars and industry leaders in the GBA and Asia-Pacific region. They included Prof. Jonathan ZHU, Chair Professor of Computational Social Science and Director of the Centre for Communication Research at City University of Hong Kong, Prof. Peter J. Schulz, Director of the Institute of Communication and Health at the University of Lugano, Switzerland, Prof. Agnes Lam Iok-fong, Director of the Centre for Macau Studies, University of Macau, Prof. Lu Xinyu, Dean of the School of Communication, East China Normal University (ECNY), Dr. Xiaoge Xu, Founding Director of Institute for Mobile Studies and Mobile Studies Summer School University of Nottingham Ningbo China, Dr. Xianhong Hu, Programme Specialist in Digital Innovation and Transformation Of UNESCO, Dr. Angus CHEONG, founder and CEO of ERS e-Research & Solutions, Macau, and Chair of the Asia-Pacific Internet Research Alliance, José Carlos Matias dos Santos, Director of Macau Business magazine and adjunct professor at University St Joseph, Macau, and Dr. Zhihao Ma, Special Assistant Research Fellow, School of Journalism and Communication, Nanjing University; Deputy Executive Director, Asia-Pacific Communication Exchange Association. The keynote speeches featured a diversified range of distinguished communication scholars and industry leaders in the GBA and Asia-Pacific region. They included Prof. Jonathan ZHU, Chair Professor of Computational Social Science and Director of the Centre for Communication Research at City University of Hong Kong, Prof. Peter J. Schulz, Director of the Institute of Communication and Health at the University of Lugano, Switzerland, Prof. Agnes Lam Iok-fong, Director of the Centre for Macau Studies, University of Macau, Prof. Lu Xinyu, Dean of the School of Communication, East China Normal University (ECNY), Dr. Xiaoge Xu, Founding Director of Institute for Mobile Studies and Mobile Studies Summer School University of Nottingham Ningbo China, Dr. Xianhong Hu, Programme Specialist in Digital Innovation and Transformation Of UNESCO, Dr. Angus CHEONG, founder and CEO of ERS e-Research & Solutions, Macau, and Chair of the Asia-Pacific Internet Research Alliance, José Carlos Matias dos Santos, Director of Macau Business magazine and adjunct professor at University St Joseph, Macau, and Dr. Zhihao Ma, Special Assistant Research Fellow, School of Journalism and Communication, Nanjing University; Deputy Executive Director, Asia-Pacific Communication Exchange Association.This Forum, an annual event starting in 2019, was themed on “Communication, Unity & Dialogue”, aiming to tackle various risks and uncertainties the world is facing today since the outbreak of Covid pandemic. Amid an increasingly precarious and contentious atmosphere, it is crucial that Asia-Pacific insists on building an open economy and inclusive and sustainable social development. The communication landscape in the Asia-Pacific region, particularly the GBA, encounters unprecedented opportunities for development and cooperation, providing a new academic field for international communication studies. There are numerous urgent issues for discussion and exploration by communication scholars, media professionals and young researchers in the Asia-Pacific region aiming to enhance the media influence of the region in the global scope, as well as empowering citizens and disenfranchise communities in Asia-Pacific. Meanwhile, the Asia-Pacific Communication Forum Alliance (Macau) (AFCFA), which was established in the Forum 2020, officiated its three standing offices: the Shanghai Office (ECNU), the Macau Office (Macau Association of Internet Research) and the Hengqin Office. This Forum also launched the APCFA workshop of methodology to enhance the methodological exploration of Asia-Pacific communication research and improve scientific analysis capabilities. This year’s online workshop: New Approaches in Content Analysis: Traditional Methodology and Innovative Execution attracted a large audience. This Forum is sponsored by the Macao Foundation. Co-organizers include Centre for Macau Studies, UM, Macau Association of Internet Research and so on. Professor Emeritus Huailin Chen, who also serves as a permanent consultant of APCEA contributes a poem to celebrate the event. Congratulation on Asia Pacific Communication Forum 2021By Chen Huailin
Alliance established by the Internet globally
Participants from seven sites sharing freely
Combining the master minds with new talents
For next year we will meet again
(Translation: Sam Li)
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