28 African Journalists Complete 10-Month Media Fellowship in China

CAPC Reception program on Dec. 1, 2016

Twenty-eight journalists from 27 African countries have completed a 10-month media and cultural exchange fellowship at the China Africa Press Center (CAPC) in Beijing, the People’s Republic of China.

The fellowship is an annual event that allows for African journalists to learn and acquire a deep knowledge about Chinese media, economic, political and cultural development. It also allows for Chinese journalists to learn more about Africa. It aims to strengthen China-Africa friendship.

This year’s program was the third and largest so far since the Participants were drawn from Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Central African Republic, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Mozambique, Egypt, Ethiopia, Niger, Malawi, Sudan, South Sudan, Zimbabwe, Gambia, Mali, Lesotho, Angola, Congo (Brazerville) and Eritrea.

An elaborate reception ceremony was held in Beijing on Thursday, December 1, 2016, to mark end of the program.

Thursday’s program, hosted by the fellowship’s sponsor, China Public Diplomacy Association (CPDA), followed series of training, media and cultural experience activities the African journalists embarked on from February.

Closing program at Renmin University of China (RUC), Oct. 31

During their stay in China, the African journalists underwent “China Development and Media Studies” at the Renmin University of China (RUC) and “Deep Exploration of Chinese Language and Culture” at the Beijing International Chinese College (BICC).

Besides training classes, the CAPC fellows had the opportunities to interview officials of relevant government ministries, agencies and enterprises; exchanged views with Chinese academies, visited and worked with major Chinese media organizations, including People’s Daily, as well as side by side with their Chinese colleagues.

They also covered major events including plenary sessions of the Chinese People’s Congress (NPC), Chinese People’s Political Consultation Conference (CPPCC), G20 Summit and Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Coordinators’ Meeting, among many other events.

The CAPC fellows visited about 35 cities and towns in 12 provinces and municipalities to see the real China.

Speaking at the reception of the CAPC 2016 completion in Beijing Thursday, December 1, 2016, the President of China Public Diplomatic Association (CPDA), Ambassador Li Zhaoxing, thanked the African journalists for their commitment during the program.

Ambassador Li, who is also a former diplomat, boasted that the participants have gained deep experiences of China, making reference to the many stories and articles they continue to write since they arrived in China.

He then challenged them to serve as catalysts in promoting understanding between Chinese and Africans for mutual benefits and economic development of both sides.

Ambassador Li reaffirmed his association’s unflinching support to promoting people-to-people contacts through the press center for a better understanding between China and African countries.

The CPDA President also disclosed plans by his group to invite more African journalists for the fourth edition of the fellowship program in 2017.

Speaking on behalf the participants, Journalist Ikenna Emewu of The Sun Newspaper in Nigeria praised China, through organizers, supporting groups and institutions of the fellowship program.

Journalist Emewu said, the Fellowship is one of the biggest international exposures anybody can hope for in his/her lifetime and career. While the fellows interacted and knew China firsthand, he said they also knew Africa than before through their colleagues.

“Prior to the CPDA Fellowship, we knew China from the world map and the daily bombard of the world news. But coming to China for the period opened to us a hitherto unknown vista. Each of us interacted with China and 26 other African countries with diverse cultures every waking day,” he indicated.

According to the Nigerian journalist, the opportunity of the Fellowship at China’s behest is double tiered-to create friendship and expertise with and about China and also within Africa.

He added: “For this reason, we thank China for creating friendship between her and Africa and within Africa.”

Emewu noted that they (fellows) came to know to be their countries’ ambassadors in foreign lands, saying that no Olympic Games, World Cup, UN General Assembly or any continental or global tournament where contingents represent their countries lasts for 10 months, and no other international event hosts as many countries as long.

“So it is a commendation to the great country, China, to host this global record tournament with cooperative rather than competitive interaction. Every participant, including the host country, wins trophies of better friendship, understanding and advancement that lead to a virile and more peaceful world,” he maintained.

Fredrick P. W. Gaye is a news editor of In Profile Daily Newspaper in Liberia and a fellow of the China Africa Press Center (CAPC) in Beijing. He can be reached at: fgaye.inprofile@gmail.com