Training program for young African journalists held in Beijing and Sichuan

A training program for young journalists from English-speaking African countries recently took place in Beijing and southwestern China's Sichuan province with 25 young media professionals from The Gambia, Rwanda, Tanzania, South Africa, South Sudan, and Zambia in attendance. The training program was organized and held by the Institute of International Studies and Advanced Training under China International Communications Group. 

Marking the 2026 China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges, this training initiative was launched to deliver the outcomes of the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. It offered a multifaceted training framework featuring thematic lectures, seminars, and immersive cultural experiences that combine theoretical learning with field visits.

Participants take a group photo at the opening ceremony of the training program in Beijing, May 21, 2026. [Photo/CICG]

The program's theoretical learning centered on China's governance philosophy and systematically covers China's national conditions, traditional culture, poverty alleviation practices, diplomatic principles, and international cooperation. The courses fully illustrated China's development philosophy and modern governance practices, enabling the young African media professionals to grasp the logics of China's development and consolidate their understanding of China.

Beyond classroom sessions, participants embarked on field visits across Beijing and Sichuan. They toured the Great Wall, Mount Emei, and the Giant Buddha of Leshan, and visited museums, a robotics center, and a television station, gaining a comprehensive, multi-dimensional understanding of the achievements of Chinese modernization and the charm of traditional Chinese culture.

The program also hosted multiple thematic seminars. Chinese and African media professionals shared industry insights based on their respective media landscapes and exchanged views on China-Africa media cooperation, youth exchanges, innovative international communication, AI application, and green development, fostering consensus through exchanges of ideas.