Modernization as a way forward for Sino African ties is necessary to strengthening the bilateral partnership and fostering development.
Senior officials and experts from China and Africa emphasized the importance of collaborating on modernization and strengthening unity within the Global South amid global challenges. Their remarks were made at the 6th Forum on China-Africa Media Cooperation & China-Africa Think Tank High-Level Dialogue in Beijing, held ahead of the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Summit scheduled from September 4 to 6.
Li Shulei, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, highlighted the role of media and think tanks in showcasing China-Africa cooperation and friendship. He further urged these organizations to enhance their visibility through joint interviews, information exchanges, and multimedia cooperation to uphold international justice and amplify the Global South’s voice.
African Union Commission
In a message to the event, Moussa Faki Mahamat, chairman of the African Union Commission, emphasized that media and think tanks bridge understanding between China and Africa. He additionally called for fostering exchange programs, collaborative reporting, data journalism, and multilingual support to promote solidarity and shared prosperity.
Further, Gao Xiang, president of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, noted that China and Africa’s paths to modernization are distinct from Western models based on colonialism. He expressed China’s willingness to support African countries in their modernization efforts for mutual benefit.
African dignitaries also underscored the shared history and cultural ties between China and Africa. For example, Thierry Lezin Moungalla, minister of communication and media of the Republic of Congo, stressed the importance of writing history in their own languages and cultures to foster solidarity and new cooperation models.
Moreover, Laurence Ndong, Gabon’s minister of communication and media, recalled China’s cultural influence in Gabon through martial arts films and highlighted the 50th anniversary of China-Gabon diplomatic relations. She emphasized the need for collaboration on artificial intelligence to address risks and seize opportunities for Gabon’s development.
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