Story by Justin Mahlahla in Jinhua, Zhejiang Province, China
The ongoing media exchange programmes between China and Africa are a catalyst for enhanced friendship and cooperation between the two sides, a top Chinese professor has said.
Addressing a seminar for Omni-media journalists from English-speaking African countries underway in Zhejiang province, China, Professor Zhang Genfu, Deputy Director of the University Affairs Committee at the Zhejiang Normal University underscored the critical role of the media in promoting Sino-Africa relations.
He said media exchanges between the two friendly peoples serve to re-affirm China’s commitment to deepening relations with Africa.
“The Ten Partnership Actions announced by President Xi Jinping at the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) 2024 have elevated Africa-China relations to new heights. China has always been a country of action and has always done what it says. We believe that in the foreseeable future, China-Africa relations will deepen and cooperation in economy, trade, culture and other fields will be closer.
“I sincerely hope that through this Seminar, we can strengthen exchanges with you, enhance the understanding of Chinese and African media friends in the language and culture, strengthen news exchanges and cultural exchanges, jointly promote the high-quality development of media undertakings of the two sides, and inject new connotation into China-Africa friendship and write a new chapter. Let us move towards each other with mutual support and empowerment, jointly advancing the modernization of China and Africa, and together achieving a bright future,” said Professor Zhang in his opening remarks.
Professor Zhang noted that a key aspect of the growing relations between the two sides is the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit in Beijing recently-held in September, where the Heads of State, Heads of Government, Heads of Delegation of the People’s Republic of China and 53 African countries and the Chairpersons of the African Union (AU) Commissions met in Beijing to draw a new blueprint for the development of Africa-China relations.
“Now we welcome media friends from 11 countries, including Ghana, South Africa, Botswana, Kenya, Mauritius, Zambia, Gambia, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Benin and Nigeria. This is the epitome of China-Africa comprehensive cooperation and friendship,” he said.
To demonstrate its commitment to mutual partnership with Africa, China has established the first comprehensive African Research Institute in China at the Zhejiang Normal University, including the first China-Africa International Business School, the first African museum and the African Translation Museum.
Among them, the African Research Institute has been selected as the “World’s Best Regional Research Center of the Year” by the University of Pennsylvania for five consecutive years.
In order to implement the spirit of the Beijing Summit of FOCAC and push China-Africa relations to a new level, the Zhejiang Provincial People’s Government plans to hold the 2024 China-Africa Economic, Trade, and Cultural Forum in Jinhua on November 8, 2024.
The forum is one of the important supporting activities under the framework of FOCAC and is held annually.
Diplomatic envoys of African countries in China will also attend the forum.
During the forum, the “China-Africa Cooperation: Ambassador’s Voice” event will also run, where African ambassadors to China who are participating in the forum will be interviewed.
