Beijing, May 5 (IANS): Chinese and Indian academics and media professionals discussed ways to strengthen cooperation in counter-terrorism and new media at a conference held in Inner Mongolia region.

The Third China-India Media Exchange Programme, which began on Wednesday was co-hosted by the Global Times Foundation and India's Observer Research Foundation (ORF), involved 20 media professionals and researchers.

Sun Yuxi, former Chinese ambassador to India, said at the conference that Chinese and Indian foreign ministries are more inclined to speak in the same tone, but it is still difficult for the two countries' media to voice the same opinion.

"Sino-Indian friendship must be built on mutual understanding and better interaction of the two countries' media, because both the Chinese and Indian people get to know each other mainly through our media," Hu Xijin, editor-in-chief of the Global Times and honorary council director of the Global Times Foundation, said.

Media communication lags behind the bilateral political connections, which is better than what is depicted in media, Samir Saran, senior fellow and vice president of the Observer Research Foundation, said during the conference.

Saran noted that Sino-Indian relations are crucial for regional peace and stability in the 21st century.

The conference will continue for three days in the Hobq Desert and three more days in Guiyang in Guizhou province.