Kathmandu: The 3rd Trans-Himalaya Communication and Social Development Conference concluded here today focusing on the significance of effective communication partnerships in the Himalayan region. This event was collaboratively organized by the Central Department of Journalism and Mass Communication at Tribhuvan University (TU) and the School of Public Administration at the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (UESTC) in Sichuan.
According to National News Agency Nepal, the Conference brought together experts, educators, and institutions from nations surrounding the Himalayas to affirm their collective dedication to effective communication and social development. Speakers at the seminar stressed the importance of collaboration over division in the region’s development.
During the conference, Professor Arvind Singhal from the University of Texas pointed out that the countries in the Himalayan region share a common culture and face similar challenges, thus the media in these nations should promote shared narratives. He asserted that media presentations ought to act as platforms for problem-solving. Professor Deepika Pant from Kumaun University noted that women in the hilly regions embody inclusive voices of their communities, and their experiences and lifestyles can exemplify effective communication.
At the seminar, Dawa Penzor, the founder of Bhutan’s Department of Information and Media, expressed the view that countries in the periphery of the Himalayas need to preserve their culture while adopting modern technology. Professor Avidha Ashraf of the University of Punjab emphasised that the Himalayan region is suffering from climate change and highlighted the need for joint efforts to address common problems.
She said although the countries in the Himalayan region are divided by borders, natural disasters are not stopped by borders and emphasised that communication ‘signals’ should not be blocked. She added that cooperation of media around the Himalayas is necessary. Han Hong, Director of Pan-Himalaya Communication Research Center, mentioned that cooperation among countries around the Himalayas would contribute to the collective development, peace, and stability of the region.
The two-day Conference, having the main theme ‘Peripheral Digital Communication and Regional Public Governance’, was attended by over 150 experts from nine different countries. Sixty papers were presented in five parallel sessions at the conference. Meanwhile, during the seminar, the Department of Public Administration of Tribhuvan University and UESTC jointly established the ‘Research Centre for Digital and Intelligent Public Governance in the Pan-Himalayan Region’.