On October 31st, the opening ceremony for the 2024 Seminar for Omni-media Journalists from English-speaking African Countries took place at the Zhengyang Building, Zhejiang Normal University in Jinhua, Zhejiang Province. The seminar was sponsored by the Ministry of Commerce and hosted by Zhejiang Normal University.
The seminar was attended by Professor Zhang Genfu, Vice Chair of the School Affairs Committee at Zhejiang Normal University, and Chen Yan, Director of the Jinhua City Foreign Affairs Office, who both delivered opening remarks. Additional dignitaries present included Cheng Jie, Deputy Director of the Municipal Government News Office and Head of the News and Publicity Department, along with Xie Hong, the project coordinator, and various instructors. Participants from ten English-speaking African countries, including South Africa, Benin, Ghana, Zambia, Gambia, Ethiopia, Botswana, Nigeria, Kenya, and Zimbabwe, joined the ceremony. The event was chaired by Xiang Wei, Secretary of the College of Foreign Languages at ZJNU, with translation provided by Wang Qi, a faculty interpreter from the Department of Translation and Interpreting.
In his address, Professor Zhang outlined the strategic importance of Zhejiang Normal University's African Studies program, a key academic brand under provincial key university development. He highlighted the university's robust partnerships with several African nations and its proactive role in high-level educational training initiatives under the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation framework, especially following the Beijing summit held in September 2024.
Director Chen Yan extended a warm welcome to the seminar participants and briefed them on Jinhua's rich historical and cultural heritage as well as its contemporary developmental achievements. She expressed her hope that the participants would actively engage in and contribute to China-Africa economic and cultural exchanges.
Speaking on behalf of the participants, Mr. Tunkara Lassana, Deputy Director of Gambia’s QTV, shared his admiration for China's social development and the progress within the Chinese media sector. He emphasized the importance of learning from the independence and growth of the Chinese media.
The seminar features a dynamic blend of classroom lectures, interactive discussions, cultural experiences, and study tours. It aims to deepen participants' understanding of omni-media and new media's significant roles in national development and societal life, incorporate insights into China’s national conditions, and offer immersive experiences in traditional Chinese culture. Over the course of 14 days, the seminar seeks to enrich the participants' appreciation of the thriving development of omni-media and the beauty of Chinese culture, fostering international cooperation in media development.
The seminar is highly valued by the university, and it prominently features a blend of theoretical and practical elements. Through direct interactions with both Chinese and international media figures and media scholars, participants gain insights into the evolution of China's news media industry. They become acquainted with the ongoing reforms and developments within Chinese news media and explore how China has facilitated the growth of its media sector through reformative measures.
