Cultural Co-existence

　　The premiere of popular Chinese TV soapie Beijing Love Story was widely hailed as a major cultural breakthrough in theNigerian capital of Abuja on September 18. Dubbed into Hausa, one ofNigeria’s major languages, the drama formed part of the ExperienceChina program held by China’s State Council Information Office (SCIO)in Abuja from September 10 to 19.

　　China will provide Nigeria with documentaries and other TVprograms free of charge, according to the agreement signed betweenSCIO and the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) on September 17.The first series of TV programs schedules for prime time screeningincludes 12 documentaries that feature China’s development in theeconomic, political and cultural sectors, and improvement in people’slivelihoods.

　　“There are many Nigerians coming to China, and also many Chinesegoing to Nigeria. Nigerians want to learn more about China,” saidLi Wufeng, Vice Minister of the SCIO. The Experience China program isdesigned to use people-to-people exchange as a more accessible toolto drive the promotion of Sino-African relations.

　　Coinciding with the Experience China program, the people of Abujabenefited from a China Library project, offering computers and bookson Chinese culture donated by the SCIO.

　　Zhang Dejiang, Chairman of the National People’s Congress StandingCommittee, unveiled the new Nigeria China Cultural Center, wherethe library is located. During his official visit to Nigeria and Uganda,China’s top legislator told the media he was keen to expand culturaland social communication, cement the foundation of people-topeoplefriendship and strengthen cooperation in international andregional affairs to safeguard common interests.

　　As part of the expansion of cultural and social communicationinitiatives, there has been a sharp increase in Chinese media setting upoperations in Africa. At a media forum held on September 19 in Abuja,those participating agreed to overcome any obstacles in presenting anauthentic image of China to an African audience and vice-versa.

　　Media cooperation has developed more slowly than other areas ofthe China-Africa bilateral relationship and that imbalance is now beingaddressed with much energy. Both China and Africa are aware that topromote their points of view to each other and the world, operatingan efficient media operation is essential. While expanding global reachin the 21st century through think tanks and cultural organizations isan international trend, the immediate impact media can have in thisthrust is obvious. To the reader, viewer or listener of news and information,what really matters is the perspective that news and informationis coming from and that it promotes understanding and dilutes misunderstandings.On the evidence of current China media operations inAfrica, this process is well underway.

关注读览天下微信， 100万篇深度好文， 等你来看……