Media delegates view photos at the second edition of BRICS Media Joint Photo Exhibition in Cape Town, South Africa, July 18, 2018.(Xinhua/Chen Cheng)

CAPE TOWN, July 18 (Xinhua) -- Leaders of media organizations from BRICS countries met here on Wednesday to discuss cooperation at the BRICS Media Forum that opened in Cape Town, South Africa on Wednesday.

The 3rd BRICS Media forum is being held under the theme of "BRICS Media Cooperation - Fostering an Inclusive, Just World Order".

Key topics to be discussed at the forum include media's role and responsibility in strengthening the BRICS narrative and measures to enhance new media cooperation in BRICS countries.

In a welcome message to delegates attending the forum, organizers said that their participation will contribute to helping change the narrative of the work BRICS countries are doing.

A total of 48 media organizations from the five BRICS countries of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, as well as from African nations including Namibia, Zambia and Ghana, among others, are participating in the event.

In a presidium meeting before the opening of the forum, Cai Mingzhao, executive chairman of the BRICS Media Forum and president of China's Xinhua News Agency, said as the BRICS cooperation mechanism has entered a new stage featuring economic, political and people-to-people cooperation as three pillars, the unique role of media in strengthening information sharing and people-to-people ties as well as enhancing the BRICS voice in global affairs becomes more important.

Iqbal Surve, co-chairman of the forum and executive chairman of South Africa's Independent Media, expressed belief that the forum will open new pathways among BRICS media organizations to deepen cooperation.

The forum is co-hosted by Independent Media and Xinhua News Agency.