Some 19 news editors from the continent are on a 10-month programme in China.

News editors from some 19 African countries are currently learning the details of Sino-African relations as well as the secret behind the world’s growing economy-China. This is to better tell the story of her seemingly sweet romance with Africa whose fruits are quite visible across the continent. The over 19 journalists from as many African countries officially began a 10-month programme in Chinese capital, Beijing, on March 1, 2016.

Speakers during the official opening ceremony at the China Africa Press Center in Jianguomen said bringing African journalists to deepen their knowledge on the country would improve on their reporting, insisting that it is essential in fostering the cordial cooperation ties between Africa and the world’s most thickly-populated country. The ceremony, attended among others by Africa’s diplomatic representations in China, was an opportunity for the country’s officials to laud the growing Sino-African relations.

Prior to the official kicker of the programme, the organisers, China-Africa Press Center and the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs in collaboration with Renmin University of China drilled the African journalists on the “Political System of China.” The lecture at the Department of Journalism and Communication of the University of Renmin was an occasion for the speaker, Professor Wang Yiwei, Director of the Institute of International Affairs of the University to take the pressmen and women down the political evolution of his country.

Another speaker, Lin Songtian, Director General of the Department of African Affairs in another venue; International Press Center, noted that the goal of the ten-month programme is to forge a mutual understanding of China and Africa by their populations so as to facilitate mutual development.

“We hold the view that understanding leads to love and since we love Africa and Africa loves us, we need to understand one another. The outcome of development should be shared by the people. No one should be privileged and none should be deprived,” both speakers agreed. They said after a careful study, based on China’s love for the continent, it has been realised that Africa’s problems are three-fold-lagging behind in infrastructure which are prerequisite to sustainable development, professionals or talented people in development-oriented fields and funds.

This explains why funding infrastructure development, assisting socio-economic development and giving scholarships for African students to study in China, all speakers held, has been China’s main support to Africa of late. They observed that the core idea of balanced development approach to interest and principles proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping is that when cooperating with Africa, China should always respect and safeguard the interest of African countries and people.

Africa, the Chinese held, has human and natural resources which are great potentials for growth. Cooperating with China that has great technology and experience could provide an engine for the mutual growth of Africa and China.

Between now and December 15, 2016 when the programme rounds off, the news men and women will sail through so many areas of the relations, discover and learn the core values of China’s expansionist policy as well as visit most, if not all, the thickly-populated country inhabited by over 1.36 billion people.