African journalists urge better understanding between China, Africa

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African journalists urge better understanding between China, Africa

(People's Daily Online) 12:49, September 22, 2013

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On Sept. 17, an African media delegation visited People's Daily Online and participated in a seminar with the theme "Chinese Dream and African Dream”. After the seminar Patrick John Bulger, executive editor of Business Day of South Africa, and Innocent Gore, editor in chief of the Herald of Zimbabwe, talked about Sino-African cooperation in a video interview with People’s Daily Online.

Africa benefits from China and learns from China

The economic and trade cooperation between China and Africa brings benefits to Africa. Now many Chinese companies are running business in Africa. They made many goods now accessible to the normal people, such as T-shirts, shoes, electronic equipment, according to Bulger.

“African countries can learn much from China. For example, the diligence, hard work, the attention to details, the overwhelming emphasis on the role of education and training that seems to be the norm in China,” Bulger said. “I think that could be adopted in Africa.”

China and Africa need to further promote mutual understanding

“As Africa is a continent rich of natural resources many Chinese companies come here to exploit the resources. The biggest challenge is how the exploitation of these resources benefits more the local people. China is cooperating with Africa with good intentions. But we need to make sure these intentions are well understood by our people. Media play a key role in promoting the mutual understanding,” said Innocent.

The recognition about China in Africa also varies from one country to another, Bulger pointed out: “Within Africa there are wide variations: different levels of development, diverse cultures and languages as well as various political systems. China could possibly benefit from realizing that single uniform approach to all of African countries is not necessarily the most productive approach. Chinese people need a better understanding of local norms and cultural rules.”

African guests share their dreams

“It’s my hope that the unfailing history of South Africa gives vivid content to the constitution and that we continue to live in a country with rising prosperity, freedom and benefit for all the people of South Africa,” said Bulger who is from South Africa.

“Based on the vast quantity of natural resources, my dream is to see my people being able to collect these resources and export them to developed countries to improve the living standards of our people,” said Innocent who is from Zimbabwe.