By Eric Msikiti in Beijing China:
China has reiterated its commitment to fostering bilateral relations with Africa through media cooperation and cultural exchange programmes.
Chinese Minister of National Radio and Television Administration Cao Shumin said this Thursday when she delivered a keynote address to mark the opening of the 7th Forum on China-Africa Media Relations currently underway Beijing.
The two-day event is being held under the theme ‘Share Development Opportunities, Shape The Audio-Visual Future’, which highlights the importance of modern story-telling technologies to development.
In her speech, Shumin described the media as a critical tool for fostering development and strengthening China-Africa relations.
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“This is why China remains committed to the expansion and deepening of media cooperation and cultural exchange as a key area towards the growth of bilateral relations between the two sides,” Shumin said.
She added that in a continuously changing world, the importance of modern ways of story-telling such as the use of audio-visual and Artificial Intelligence (AI) could not be over-emphasised.
Shumin said such innovations could assist people from the two sides, especially youths, to tell their story and reach huge audiences.
African Union (AU) Ambassador to China, Alhaji Mohamed Sarjoh Bah, described the relationship between China and African countries as one of the things that have defined the 21st century.
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Sarjoh Bah said the relationship aligned with the AU’s development agenda of “building the Africa we want” by 2063.
Bah added that for bilateral relations to grow from strength to strength, the media had a critical role to play in unlocking the potential of Africa’s young population as well as shaping the economic future of the continent.
“The media is no longer just a channel of communication but a catalyst for change, a strategic channel for development where stories told influence investments and inspire innovation,” Bah said.
He, therefore, commended the Forum on China-Africa Media Cooperation, calling it a platform for strengthening partnership and creating investment and employment opportunities for both sides.
The 7th Forum on China- Africa Media Cooperation comes as the two sides commemorate about 70 years of bilateral relations.
This year, the forum also took place on the China-Africa People to People and cultural exchange occasion.
