Professor Tahira Allahyarova shares insights on media–think tank co-op in Xinhua interview

Under the leadership of Ahmad Ismayilov, Chief Executive Officer of the Media Development Agency, a delegation from the Social Research Center (SRC), the Center for Analysis of International Relations, and the Media Development Agency attended the “Global South Media and Think Tanks Forum 2025” in China.

During the forum, Xinhua News Agency, the official state news outlet of the People’s Republic of China, published an exclusive interview with Professor Allahyarova, who also serves as Vice-Chair of the SRC Board.

Xinhua is China’s state news agency, operating at a ministerial level under the State Council. Established in 1931 and headquartered in Beijing, it employs more than 13,000 people and is the country’s largest media organization. Of Xinhua’s 220 news bureaus, 184 are located abroad.

The full interview can be accessed at the following link:
https://russian.news.cn/20250907/d4607b4008d54453bc4f4b7a70b2d6d1/c.html

In her interview titled “Cooperation between Media and Think Tanks in the Global South Will Give Fresh Impetus to Governance Reforms,” Professor Tahira Allahyarova noted:

“Partnership between media and think tanks can do more than help build consensus. It can also strengthen the overall development of emerging economies and provide new momentum for advancing reforms in global governance."

She added that at a time when false information spreads easily and trust in evidence-based, accurate reporting is eroding, think tanks must move away from the outdated notion that “research and publications alone are enough to solve problems.” According to her, cooperation between think tanks and the media in the Global South is essential. Think tanks should be able to convey their ideas and perspectives in the right format, at the right moment, and to the right audience.

“Leaders in the Global North seek to keep control over the information space. For that reason, think tanks and media networks in the Global South must assume part of the responsibility and mobilize efforts to strengthen the South’s position,” Professor Allahyarova emphasized.

Speaking about the results of cooperation, she recalled that the first Global South Media and Think Tanks Forum was held last year in São Paulo, Brazil.

“In just a single year, we have witnessed a much deeper and more structured dialogue among media organizations in the Global South. This has amplified the South’s voice and challenged the dominant narrative traditionally shaped by Western media,” she said.

According to Professor Allahyarova, cooperation between think tanks and the media in the Global South has already produced tangible results through the Forum platform.

“Various forms of collaboration established within the Forum — the signing of joint documents, consensus statements, and declarations, as well as the exchange of experience in scientific and technological innovation, modernization, and cultural development, including learning from China’s practices — all of these are concrete outcomes of the Forum and provide strong support for addressing global challenges,” she said.

She added that “through joint efforts, shared scientific achievements, the exchange of information, and in-depth discussions on major global issues, media and think tanks are contributing to consensus-building through dialogue and giving a clear impetus to strengthening South–South cooperation.”