The China-Africa Media Dialogue Forum and inauguration ceremony of the China-Africa Media Research and Communication Center took place on May 30, 2025 at Zhejiang Normal University’s Institute of African Studies. Media representatives and scholars from China and Africa participated both online and offline, witnessing the center’s establishment and discussing new pathways for media collaboration.
Leadership and Mission
Co-directed by Ikenna Emewu, editor-in-chief of Nigeria’s Africa-China Economy magazine, and Dr. Li Zhaoying from ZJNU, the center aims to address Global South countries’ needs in international communication. Focusing on research, dissemination and talent development, it will build a multilateral platform to enhance China-Africa co-narratives through African perspectives.
Strategic Importance
Professor Liu Hongwu, director of ZJNU’s African Studies Institute, emphasized the center’s role in South-South cooperation and breaking Western-dominated discourse traps. Chinese Consul General in Lagos Yan Yuqing praised the initiative for providing authentic voices amid global transformations, while Emewu highlighted its potential for maximizing public communication impact through institutionalized exchanges.
Practical Collaboration Frameworks
During the dialogue session, media professionals proposed concrete cooperation mechanisms:
CGTN Africa’s Douglas Acquah suggested creating a historical database, journalist exchange programs, and an academic journal
Zhejiang International Communication Center’s Cheng Dengyu offered to share provincial development experiences
Fortune Report‘s Nick Ogbuli stressed the need for emotional resonance in storytelling
Addressing Narrative Challenges
Africa News editor Silense Karumbira noted Western media’s frequent distortion of China-Africa cooperation achievements, underscoring the center’s timely role in rebalancing global narratives. Wang Yan from ZJNU’s Nigeria Research Center advocated moving beyond Western information dependencies through face-to-face exchanges.
Operational Models
Shan Min outlined ZJNU’s three-pronged approach: two-way mobility, interdisciplinary content production, and deep-rooted African partnerships. The center will integrate these proven methods with new initiatives to foster equitable communication.
Future Directions
The center will focus on research, dialogue and capacity building, serving as an intellectual hub for China-Africa people-to-people connectivity. As Professor Zhang Qiaowen noted, this marks not just a new platform but the beginning of a new era in China-Africa media relations, particularly in empowering youth engagement and mutual understanding.
Related Topic:
- Will Hong Kong Express’s New Changzhou Route Boost Regional Connectivity?
- PATA Champions Meaningful Tourism at 2025 Guangzhou Travel Fair
- Global Air Travel Surpasses Pre-Pandemic; Middle East Leads
