CAPE TOWN, July 18 (Xinhua) -- Media leaders from BRICS countries held a presidium meeting of the 3rd BRICS Media Forum in Cape Town, South Africa, on Wednesday to explore ways to further cooperation.

Executives and senior officials of mainstream media organizations from the BRICS nations, namely Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, are mulling measures to deepen and expand the future cooperation among BRICS media outlets through mutual learning, intensifying people-to-people exchanges and expanding information exchange.

Cai Mingzhao, executive chairman of the BRICS Media Forum and president of 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 international 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 3rd BRICS Media Forum, with the theme of "BRICS Media Cooperation - Fostering an Inclusive, Just World Order," is held on July 18-19. The opening ceremony of the forum is scheduled to start later Wednesday after the presidium meeting.

The forum is co-hosted by Independent Media and Xinhua News Agency. The Hindu of India, CMA Group of Brazil and Sputnik of Russia are co-chairs of the presidium.