Story by Jonathan Marerwa
CHANGSHA – THE enduring friendship between China and Zimbabwe continues to flourish, with the Asian economic powerhouse hosting a series of capacity-building seminars aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation in various sectors, including the media.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of a training seminar for 22 Zimbabwean media professionals held in Changsha, Mr Liu Zhankui, Deputy Director of the Division of Human Resources in the Department of Commerce, in Hunan Province, commended the growing collaboration between the two countries.
“The friendship between China and Zimbabwe has stood the test of time. Our cooperation, particularly in the media sector is deepening, and there is room for continued learning and engagement. We remain committed to a China-Africa partnership with a shared future,” he said.
Mr Liu also praised the Zimbabwean participants for their enthusiasm and active engagement during the seminar, stating that their participation had further strengthened people-to-people ties.
Ms Fu Yunhui, Vice Dean of the China-aid Training Faculty of Hunan International Business Vocational College, noted that the camaraderie shown throughout the seminar left a lasting impression on the hosts.
“The shared discussions on evolving media trends helped cement the already strong bond between our two nations.”
Representing the Zimbabwean participants, Mr Alphonse Mbizwo thanked the Chinese government for its efforts in capacitating African media professionals, highlighting the educational value of the exposure.
“Attending the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo in Changsha and the China-Africa Music and Film Week offered critical insights into how cultural and economic collaboration is being nurtured. Visits to major media organisations in Hunan, Changsha, Hangzhou and Shanghai, including the Shanghai Media Group, underscored the irreversible shift towards digitisation in global media,” he said.
Mr Mbizwo added that the exposure illuminated the path Zimbabwe’s media sector must take to modernise and better engage with younger audiences. He also acknowledged gaps in skills development and technology that must be addressed for the country to stay competitive in the digital media landscape.
He emphasised the need to build on the historical ties between China and Zimbabwe through deeper cooperation in media development and innovation.
