African Journalists Call for Stronger Media Collaboration with China at Hongting Forum

African journalists from across Central and West Africa convened during the recent Hongting Forum webinar to propose deeper media collaboration with Chinese counterparts. The online event, designed to foster Sino-African relations, illustrated the media's central role in nurturing diplomatic and economic engagements.

At the webinar, hosted in Abidjan, the economic capital of Cote d'Ivoire, about 50 participants from over 10 French-speaking nations gathered to deliberate the future of media cooperation. They recognized the energetic synergy that currently exists and called for furthering such partnerships for mutual gain.

Journalists like Gerard Ayiagnigni Njoya of Cameroon highlighted how media has served as a steadfast testament to the burgeoning partnership between Africa and China. Coverage in his nation has been pivotal in strengthening ties, mirroring similar sentiments from his Togolese counterpart, Yibokou-Mensah Akossiwa. Media reports in Togo have actively contributed to bolstering diplomatic and economic relations with China.

Benin's Emmanuel Dulac Houssou credited the positive media narrative for burgeoning Chinese investments, infrastructure projects, and cultural exchanges in his country. Houssou see immense opportunities for media cooperation and called for enhancements in professional media training to capitalize on these prospects.

Auguste Mederic Beugre, who leads the Consortium of African Professional Journalists for Strengthening Sino-African Cooperation, focused on the Ivorian experience. Local journalists have spotlighted the array of infrastructures – ranging from healthcare facilities to cultural and sports centers – built with Chinese support. Beugre advocated a permanent cooperation framework between Chinese and Ivorian journalists to further such initiatives.

Beugre's proposal wasn't solely for the benefit of Chinese-African ties; he stipulated the need for balanced international coverage of Africa. He expressed a desire for stories of Africa told with African voices, underscoring the need for narratives driven by local perspectives.

The Hongting Forum, organized by Xinhua News Agency's Africa Regional Bureau, aims to build such bridges. Prior sessions in Nairobi and Johannesburg set the stage for the productive discussions in Abidjan. These meetings have become vital conduits for expressing desires and establishing goals for fruitful journalistic collaborations which may thrive well into the future.

The forums could mark the beginnings of a transformative era in media relations, where stories are shared collaboratively and told with authenticity—a vision where African journalists not only receive content but also actively contribute to the global media landscape.