New era for China-Africa media links

African journalists pose with a couple in preparation for their wedding in 2016 in Qingdao, Shandong Province, as part of a regular exchange program designed to help them better understand the country and its environment. media landscape. According to Nie Chenxi, director of the State Administration of Radio and Television, Sino-African cooperation has entered a new golden era.

Nie Addressed Fourth Forum on Sino-African Cooperation in the Field of Media, Where Twelve New Cooperation Agreements were Signed

About 400 Government Officials and Media Organization Managers African countries participated in the forum.

The years since the first forum in Beijing in 2012, China-Africa cooperation in political dialogue, industrial development, staff training and international multilateral cooperation has made considerable progress.

Earlier in June, the Chinese government and the Kenyan Ministry of Communication and Technology launched a project to provide satellite television services to 800 villages in 47 counties in Kenya.

About 16,000 Individual households will be connected through the project, each through a satellite dish, a high-definition set-top box and other accessories.

At the same time, villages will be equipped with solar-powered satellite television systems. Another project covering 500 villages in Zambia was launched on 25 June. Dora Siliya, Zambian Minister of Information and Broadcasting, told the June 26 forum that many children were able to watch TV shows for the first time.

This was made possible by a program announced by President Xi Jinping at the 2015 Johannesburg Summit on Sino-African Cooperation in South Africa. Xi said China will implement projects to provide access to satellite TV channels for 10,000 African villages.

According to Guo Ziqi, vice president of StarTimes Ltd, Chinese digital TV service provider responsible for the implementation The new service will cover a total of 10,112 villages in 25 African countries and will be completed by the end of of the year.

In addition, Siliya said that with the support of China, Zambia has managed to move the process to 85% She said that Zambia would be able to reach the coverage of the universal broadcasting throughout the country for the first time in December 2019 when the process is completed. "Our relationship with China is extremely important because we are talking about results," said Siliya.

Yakubu Ibn Mohammed, director general of Nigerian Television, said the digital migration process is progressing steadily in the country. "It will provide consumers with a diverse range of programming across multiple channels, for example, viewers in our capital, Abuja, will have access to 30 channels," he said.

At the Johannesburg FOCAC summit in 2015, Xi also presented an initiative to train 1,000 African media professionals each year. Currently, 29 media professionals from 28 African countries are participating in a 10-month training program organized by the China-Africa Press Center as part of the China Public Diplomacy Association, which will allow participants to get acquainted with China's experience. and its media landscape. Some members have already had the opportunity to cover major media events in China, such as the two March sessions.

Nigerian journalist Solomon Elusoji said he has completed 13 new missions in the political, economic, cultural and travel fields. Since arriving in China in February, this experience has helped to decide to become a specialist in China.

According to Leo Boruett, Deputy Director General of the Kenya Communications Administration, five Kenyan reporters are currently participating in a three-week training.

In addition to studying the history and development of the radio and television industry in China, journalists develop their operational skills and professional knowledge. The small training program will also include visits to major Chinese radio and television stations.

African countries still need facilities, funds, expertise and especially quality content, according to Gregoire Ndjaka, Director General of the African Union.

But exchanges and cooperation between China and Africa in the fields of film and television regularly help to improve the situation.

The China Media Group asks to become a member of AUB, The Africa Live films and Faces of Africa produced by CGTN Africa (founded in 2012 under the name of CCTV Africa) have been well received.

Meanwhile, Chinese films and television series have been introduced in more than 40 African countries. Last year, 17 films and 400 television programs in seven languages ​​- including French, Portuguese and local languages ​​- were broadcast in 20 African countries as part of the Beijing TV Dramas Broadcasting Exhibition in Africa, according to Du Feijin. , head of the advertising department The Du said that Beijing's businesses and institutions have doubled about 8,000 hours and translated more than 10,000 hours of Chinese films and TV series in 2017. Swahili and language dubbing competitions Hausa for Films and "" The themes of love, kindness and warmth conveyed by Chinese TV shows are part of a universal language that resonates with the African public, "Wang explains. Liping, screenwriter behind A Beautiful Daughter. The era, which was translated into Swahili and welcomed by the public in Tanzania and Kenya in 2011.

Another of his works featuring a young courting couple is currently and according to Fu Ruoqing, president of the Huaxia Film Distribution, the company plans to cooperate with its African counterparts by investing in the development of cinemas abroad, supporting new co-productions, Fu said the company also launched the Belt Circuit Community and of the road to promote the integration of film distribution networks in the region and develop mechanisms for cooperation.