China: CAPC Hosts 29 African Journalists

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China, through its prestigious China-Africa Press Centre (CAPC), is establishing new prospects for China – Africa relations, by welcoming journalists from across Africa to be part of its 2017 program which officially kicked off on 21st February, to end in December, later this year. The ten-month program is organized by China Public Diplomacy Association and has in the past organized two previous programs, this being the third.

The Counselor, The Information Department and Director, Public Diplomacy Office, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, China, Liu Yutong, in his welcome address, yesterday to successful participants, noted that the CAPC program will better assist in the social, political and cultural understanding of China. Visits to some of China’s provinces would be an enlightening and engaging experience for journalists on the program. “Last year we organized ten trips to ten provinces outside of Beijing,” he said, adding that such visits were meticulously focused on the western, middle and eastern areas.

Yutong, who had also previously been in service in Africa, pointed out the importance of these visits, also admitting that there was much to learn from them.

On his part, the Director of the China-Africa Press Centre, Chen Zhe, similarly assured participants of the rich activities the program had to offer, which would include attendance of key events in China, and internship with some Chinese media houses, while also experiencing press conferences at the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Major events would include the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, (CPPCC), the National People’s Congress (NPC), of the People’s Republic of China, Brazil, Russia, India, China & South Africa (BRICS) among others.

The event which seeks to strengthen China’s ties with Africa, giving a better understanding of China, politically, economically and culturally, has in its line up of activities; featured interviews on China and African relations, lectures on China and Chinese language courses which will run for the duration of the programme, and involve group activities on Chinese culture.

Other programs include[:] media visits and exchanges, internship at Chinese media organizations and field visits.

Some of the countries participating in the 2017 CAPC program include; Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana, Cameroon, Malawi, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Kenya, Zambia, Gabon, Togo, Senegal, Mauritius, South Sudan, Tanzania, Burundi among others.