Media professionals from China and India on Thursday started a four-day dialogue in Beijing on topics including how professionals see each other's current development, how the two nations can join hands in facing opportunities and challenges and social media in the two countries.

The First China-India Media Exchange Program, co-hosted by the Global Times Foundation and the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) in India, also involved discussions on news reporting on each other's countries by domestic media outlets.

Chinese and Indian media outlets are focusing more on each other, but always in terms of sensitive issues, said Hu Xijin, Editor-in-Chief of the Global Times and Honorary Chairman of the Global Times Foundation, adding that misunderstandings and confrontations on many issues are still blinding both sides.

"China and India need to learn much from each other, and the friendship will bring development and stability in both regional and global spheres," Hu noted.

Sunjoy Joshi, president of the Observer Research Foundation (ORF), pointed out that there are not enough exchanges between Chinese and Indian media to improve the bilateral relationship, and hostility can be felt in each other's reports.

"India needs to appreciate pluralism and dynamism of Chinese thought, and incorrect reporting will affect policymakers," Joshi said.

The two sides also exchanged views on the influence of sensitive issues between the two countries through their reports. B R Deepak, an Indian sinologist and writer, said Chinese media tend to sensationalize events happening in India.

Border issues have also become a heated topic that led all the participants to deep discussions about what role media from both sides should play. Mohan said it is best that "we should learn to keep things below boiling point."

Conflicts between China and India have heated up in recent years. Media from both sides are always regarded as the driving force in hyping up such tension.

Lan Jianxue, a deputy director of the Center of South Asian Studies under the China Institute of International Studies, said media professionals are not only reporters, but "contributors" to a positive influence.

Chilamkuri Raja Mohan, an ORF research fellow, said generally, Indian people's sentiments stirred by China's rise are mixed with admiration of China being able to lift so many people out of poverty and fear.

"Cooperation is still urgently needed," said Mao Xiaogang, Op-Ed director with the Beijing Daily newspaper, adding that collaboration on new energy and new technology, coordination on trade and financial affairs, as well as working together to improve the security situation in the Asia Pacific and establish a balanced rule are three major topics facing both China and India.