China's Image and Global Communications High-end Forum is held at Shanghai International Studies University, June 3, 2017. [Provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

"Currently, China's image in the public opinion of many foreign countries doesn't match its national strength as a non-negligible rising economic power. Chinese media can play a big role in correcting some countries' misperceptions of China and tell what's really going on in the country to the rest of the world in a timely and comprehensive approach," Zhao Qizheng, dean of the school of journalism at Renmin University of China, said during the forum at Shanghai International Studies University.

Real and affecting stories happening to either individuals and families or the whole society that are able to surmount cultural barriers serve as the best ones to tell, said Zhao, also a former minister of the State Council Information Office.

"The stories are like untreated apples. But when the international readers eat the apple, they'll absorb the Vitamin C it contains, which is the Chinese culture and socialism with Chinese characteristics," he said.

Zhou Shuchun, editor-in-chief of China Daily, said during the forum that "we should be aware that what China says or does is making headlines around the world".

"Instead of just spreading the facts, we should strive to achieve more consensus and resonance from the international society," he said.

Wang Guoqing, deputy director of the foreign affairs committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee, said that every Chinese citizen can be a messenger in public diplomacy as there have been more personal contacts between Chinese and foreigners when China becomes increasingly open in recent years.

"The country is like a thick book and every citizen is a page of it. When the Chinese people tell foreigners around them about their personal stories and feelings for the motherland, foreigners are reading page after page and gradually form their impression of the whole book," Wang said.

More than 120 working journalists, professors from university schools of journalism and experts in the fields of public opinion and international communications at think tanks from different Chinese cities attended the forum.

Topics, including how to present China's national image in an objective and all-rounded way and international communications in the new age, were discussed at the forum.

Zhao Qizheng, dean of the school of journalism at Renmin University of China and former minister of the State Council Information Office, delivers a speech at the forum, June 3, 2017. [Provided to chinadaily.com.cn]