China: Strengthening friendship with Africa through capacity building

By Ochiaka Ugwu

At the Beijing Summit and Ninth Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) which was held in Beijing from September 4 to 6, 2024. Chinese President, Xi Jinping announced 10 strategic, constructive and pragmatic measures to support Africa towards its advancement. Among these measures was China’s pledge of “Partnership Action for People-to-People Exchanges”

Again, Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Beijing Action Plan (2025-2027) released by China’s Foreign Ministry further highlighted the details of the plans which stated that, “China will build platforms for media communications and cultural exchanges in Africa to boost the integrated development of African media. China will continue to implement the China-Africa Press Center Program and hold workshops and training programs for African media personnel”.

Beijing has been walking its talk to the admiration of many by organizing trainings, seminars, workshops and conferences for African friends. This has strengthened people to people contacts, robust interaction, expand collaboration and cooperation on press and communications to tell the story of China-Africa partnership which is yielding practical and positive outcomes.

However, participating in a “Seminar for Renowned Nigerian Commentators” which took participants to Beijing and Chongqing cities of the People’s Republic of China was not only remarkable and enriching, but exposed me and other attendees on the greatness of China and its peoples.

The Seminar organized by China International Communications Group (CICG) Institute of International Studies and Advanced Training (CICG IISAT) under the China Ministry of Commerce gathered together 22 Renowned Nigerian Commentators for 21 days beginning from May 13 to June 2nd with the sole objective of promoting friendship and cooperation in media between China and Africa through exchanges and dialogue in the new era.

The meeting commenced with opening ceremony in Beijing with the Director of IISAT Centre, CICG, Feng Yin moderating. She introduced the main activities of the seminar which include lectures, study visits and cultural experiences. Feng stated the facilitators will organize officials from relevant Chinese departments and experts, scholars to introduce social and economic development history, policies and measures of China focusing on the achievements and lessons China learned after reform and opening up. The organizers lived up to their promise as cerebral and intellectually deep resource persons engaged us with thought provoking lectures on China’s evolution, modernization and advancement overtime. Their demonstration of knowledge and dexterity in their teachings speak volume of China having reservoir of great minds that the world should learn from and drink from their spine of knowledge.

The Deputy Director of CICG IISAT, Li Hengtian in his remarks acknowledged that China and Nigeria have achieved many results, but stated the people of the two countries still long to understand each other more deeply, understand the consensus and differences in global governance, understand the laughter and tears of ordinary people amidst the tides of the times.

Li also expressed hope that Chinese and Nigerian press can strengthen cooperation and, with diverse perspectives and sincere writing, together tell the stories of China-Nigeria friendly cooperation and common development, promoting mutual understanding and peaceful friendship between the peoples.

He urged all to speak freely, share our views, experiences, and stories with one another, enhancing understanding through exchange and gathering strength through cooperation.

He informed that the Institute of International Studies and Advanced Training is affiliated with China International Communications Group founded in 1949, saying that CICG is a comprehensive professional international communication agency dedicated to telling China’s stories well and showcasing China’s long history, culture, contemporary outlook, and achievements in reform and development to the international community through various languages and media.

He said the Institute publishes over 4,000 types of books in more than 40 languages and edits 36 multi-language periodicals in 14 languages every year, informing that “Xi Jinping: The Governance of China”, compiled and printed by CICG, has been published in five volumes and 42 languages, with distribution covering more than 180 countries and regions.

The highpoint of the event was the presentation of 5th Volume of the book, “Xi Jinping: The Governance of China” to all participants by Mr. Li. The book adjudged to be one of the most informative books on practical reform and modern governance in the globe by development experts and scholars of history and political organisms chronicled President Xi’s thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics and building a Shared Future for Mankind in the new era.

Participants encountered their first presentation with the topic: “China’s National Conditions and Traditional Culture” delivered by a well-informed presenter, Sun Jingying, an Assistant Research Fellow at the Institute of World Economics and Politics, Chinese Academy of Social Science. Sun did not only take us to another milage in Chinese history and evolution with her captivating lecture, but deeper into social condition and secular endeavors of Chinese leaders that aided Chinese transformation and development.

The lectures got better as the days roll by opening our minds on the level of public support for the government and its deep managerial skill of the nation. The fact remains that the government of China is peoples’ centered and that best explains why Chinese citizens that confided in me expressed great satisfaction with the Central government.

However, our cultural experience began with the visit to Great City Wall of China, an icon to behold. It brought to fore the richness of ancient Chinese architecture and traditions. The convergence of peoples from all over the world at the great wall and the importance attached to this great monument confirmed the statement made by the founder of modern China, Mao Zendong who said that, “If you have not climbed the Great Wall, you are not a great man”. The visit to Communist Party of China (CPC) Museum was highly interesting as it was intriguing. A close examination of CPC’s evolution shows that China’s reform and advancement are embedded in the party’s commitment to the wellbeing of the people. There is no doubt that it has remained true to goal and sticking to its mission firmly by being the vanguard of the Chinese people especially the working class. Indeed, African political parties have a lot to learn from CPC in the area of prioritizing the welfare of the ordinary people, putting them first, serve them with all their heart. They should collaborate and build strong partnership with CPC to advance shared priorities in the new era.

Visit to Neusoft Medical opened our mind to understanding China’s advanced medical equipment and China-Africa Medical partnership. Neusoft Medical System Co, Ltd. is a foremost world’s clinical and diagnosis and treatment solution provider. it has four major business lines which include: digital medical diagnosis and treatment equipment, Medical Devices as a Service (MDaaS), equipment service and training, and in vitro diagnostic equipment and reagents. The company’ s product coverage includes CT, MRI, DSA, GXR, PET/CT, US, RT and IVD. It has established 11 overseas branches in the United States, Germany, Russia, Brazil, Peru, Kenya, the United Arab Emirates, Thailand, South Korea and Vietnam. With over 45,000 installations in more than 110 countries, it provides advanced medical imaging solutions and high-quality care to patients and healthcare providers worldwide.

Above all, Neusoft Medical is dedicated to becoming an excellent value innovator of global healthcare services. Through innovation and excellent operations, Neusoft Medical Systems is advancing healthcare products across a wide range of medical solutions and services to enhance global healthcare for mankind in the new era. There is every need for Africa nations to partner with Neusoft to strengthen their health systems having proven to be a worldclass medical service provider to serve as a vehicle to strengthen China’s role and engagement in global health and advance Africa health system for better.

Chongqing visitation started with a Symposium on “International Communication and Exchange of the Rule of Law in China” at Southwest University of Political Science & Law (SWUPL) which was very memorable.

Speaking during the symposium, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Dean of the School of Journalism and Communication, Cai Fei who noted that China and Africa are rooted in history informed that the School of Journalism and Communication of Southwest University of Political Science and Law was founded in 1994, as a famous school of communication in China.

He noted that in 2010, the school was renamed the “School of Global Journalism and Communication,” and approved for doctoral degree authorization in 2018.

He stated that the school has consistently upheld the educational philosophy of “Chinese stance, global vision, legal justice, and social responsibility for over 30 years and has the reputation of training more than 9,000 journalism and communication professionals for newspapers, radio, television, the internet, and various government agencies.

Cai while stating that China and Africa are separated by vast oceans, pointed out that their friendship has deep historical roots.

He said that Nigeria being the largest economy and most populous nation in Africa holds an important position in the global communication landscape, describing the presence of Nigeria participants in Chongqing as a “journalistic handshake” spanning thousands of miles.

As an educator in the field of journalism, Cai expressed hope that both sides can further leverage the media as a bond to promote practical exchanges within the China-Africa journalism community.

“At the same time, we can explore how to use the rule of law as a starting point, tell the story of China and Africa working hand in hand to advance the construction of a civilized society based on the rule of law” he stated.

The team also explored the wonders of Liziba Monorail passing through the Residential Building. It is a unique transport arrangement as we saw trains moving directly through a residential building, without constituting problems for the people living in the neighbourhood.

The ingenuity of Chinese people in modeling the concept astonished us and kept us guessing on the concept of China’s modernization. A broader view of the whole amazing sight was clearly spotted across the river with some of us taken the famous “Eating the train” photo. It was a great experience that is transforming Chongqing to an attractive tourism centre.

The visits to Temple of Heaven, Taetea Store, Hongqiao Pearl Market, Qianmen Street, in Beijing, SERES Automobile Shuangfu Plant, Chongqing Rato Holding Holding Group, Co. Ltd, Jiangji Distillery Base, Huangzhuang, Yulin Waste-to-Energy Plant of Sanfeng Environment Group, Yubei, Western China International Centre Park and Belt and Road Journalists’ Station all in Chongqing where the participants were exposed to digitally made infrastructure and high-tech facilities powered by clean energy, latest Chinese technological innovations, friendly and highly skilled staff, gave credence that China is really building a shared community for mankind in the new era. It attested to the honest resolve by the CPC to positively impact the world with its governance model and ideological stand.

Truth be told, the experience gained from the discussions on development of China’s politics, society, history, culture, and successful Practices in Poverty Alleviation, The Belt and Road Initiative and Building a China-Africa Community with a Shared Future, Development Philosophy and Practice of Chinese Modernization, Editing and reporting process of international news, and technological innovations in media convergence of China’s mainstream media, the experiences of China’s mainstream TV media in producing commentary programs, and the Interplay between China’s development and news media are not only invaluable, but challenging in the sense they are characterized with fine lines that can kickstart the overall transformation of Africa borrowing from China’s sustaining models and domesticating them in line with local conditions.

As China is tirelessly advancing the benefits of interconnectivity and shared priorities with Africa, participants did not only gain new understanding on China’s modernization and President Xi Jinping’s impacting global leadership, but a convincing and broader viewpoint on how people-centered National development Plans, efficient governance system, effective utilization of resources and constructive strategic cooperation can translate to improved lifestyles, sustainable development, economic advancement, and prosperity for all under heaven.