Africa: Experts - Cross-Cultural Communication Crucial Between China, Africa

allafrica.com

Beijing — Cross-cultural communication is crucial to enhancing mutual cooperation and tackling common challenges of China and Africa, participants agreed at the International Conference on China-Africa Communications held in Beijing.

The conference was hosted by the Communication University of China (CUC) on Friday.

Themed Media Development, Cross-Cultural Communication and Public Diplomacy, it attracted many professionals and scholars from China and countries of Africa.

"Cross-cultural communication has a vital role on the development of China-Africa relations," Horace Nii Ayi Ankrah,Ghana's deputy ambassador to China, said at the conference.

Nii Ayi Ankrah stressed the study of media role and media effect, which are of significant value to different regions and the whole world.

On the common destiny forged by China and Africa, participants said, the community of common destiny is vital for the pursuit of common development and prosperity for the two sides.

"However, it should be admitted that along with increasing opportunity, the cooperation between China and Africa also faces challenges," Vice-president of CUC, Liao Xiangzhong said.

In this respect, Liao emphasized that new media are expected to play an indispensable part in promoting mutual understanding while dealing with challenges.

This could be achieved by promoting and creating a sound public opinion environment among the peoples, Liao added.

Zhang Yanqiu, a professor from CUC,stressed that the functions media could fulfill in enhancing cooperation while minimizing differences between the two sides.

She said: "Since there are differences in ideology, cultural convention, level of economic development and social institution between China and Africa, media are crucial to enhancing mutual trust between the two regions."

"Therefore, it becomes particularly urgent to formulate a more pragmatic information communication study and exchange," Zhang added.

Strong ties have been built between China and Africa through platforms including the International Conference on China-Africa Communications, the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, the Program for China-Africa Cooperation in Economic and Social Development.

Against this background, the hosting of the current conference provides ample exchange chances for their professionals and scholar and, in the long run, will contribute to the further flourishing of cooperation in many more fields between the two parties, according to the participants.