Source: China committed to enhance cultural tourism with Zim – herald
Freedom Mupanedemo and Judith Phiri in CHANGSHA, China
CHINA has reaffirmed its commitment to broaden cooperation with Zimbabwe to enhance cultural tourism and language skills exchange as the Asian nation continues to cement its relations with Africa
Addressing over 22 media professionals from Zimbabwe, who completed a two-week skills exchange programme organised by Hunan International Business Vocational College in Changsha Hunan Province, China, deputy director of the Division of Hunan Resources in the Department of Commerce, Mr Liu Zhankui said the media was key in cultivating further the long-standing historical relations between Beijing and Harare.
Journalists, he said, were key in enhancing and promoting cultural and tourism cooperation between the two countries.
“Over the past 14 days, each one of you has demonstrated remarkable perseverance in overcoming linguistic, cultural and lifestyle differences,” he said.
“With enthusiasm and an open mind, you have engaged in professional training and in-depth discussions centred on themed “journalism and reporting”, significantly enhancing your comprehensive capabilities.”
Mr Liu said the two-week seminar by the Zimbabwean journalists sought to concientise the Fourth Estate on what China has to offer in terms of culture and other economic and development cooperations with Zimbabwe.
“I encourage you to apply the knowledge and insights gained here to your professional endeavours, becoming pivotal contributors to the growth of Zimbabwe’s media sector,” he said.
“As you return home, I encourage you to continue learning about and engaging with China, nurturing the traditional friendship between our nations, becoming new-era ambassadors for China-Zimbabwe ties, contributing to the advancement of our bilateral relations.”
He said China remains Africa’s steadfast friend, brother and partner, with boundless prospects for China-Africa cooperation.
Mr Liu said the successful hosting of recently concluded 4th China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo, which brought together many Africans countries to showcase their culture and business opportunities in China was testimony of how China intends to take its relations to Africa to another level.
“Hunan Province, as one of China’s most active provincial-level participants in Africa engagement, remains committed to advancing practical collaboration with Zimbabwe across investment, trade, infrastructure, culture and other sectors. We are dedicated to contributing to the building of a China-Africa community with a shared future at a higher level,” he said.
Vice Dean of China-aid Training Faculty of Hunan International Business Vocational College, Ms Fu Yunhui, who also attended the closing ceremony, said the training was aimed at fostering enduring ties between the two nations.
“We hope the seminar laid a strong foundation for future collaboration.
“May the friendship between the people of China and Zimbabwe endure forever,” said Ms Fu.
She said during the seminar, organised field visits to key institutions were critical and important in enriching the seminar’s impact.
Alfonce Mbizwo, who gave closing remarks on behalf of the Zimbabwe journalists, commended China for embracing the media in its endeavours to further strengthen bilateral ties between the two nations.
“The seminar was so insightful and exhilarating, we heard interesting narratives about the country’s fight to eradicate poverty, and what stood out was the single mindedness of China’s leadership in the new China, starting from 1949 with the late Chairman Mao Zedong, to the present with President Xi Jinping,” he said.
He said as journalists, the lesson learnt was about the irreversible shift to digitisation and how China has embraced the new media.
He said the seminar provided some major insights for the group to take back home.
Some of the field trips included a visit to Hunan Mass Media Vocational and Technical College and Xiaoxiang Pictures, attending the China-Africa Music and Film week, a tour to Shanghai Media Group, Shanghai Mango TV Cultural Investment, and Time Axis Technology in Hangzhou.
The group also visited one of the world’s most frequented tourist resort, the West Lake in Hangzhou.
Other cultural experiences which were arranged included the visit to the iconic Orange Isle scenic area in Changsha, where a larger than life statue of Chairman Mao Zedong is erected and guarded round the clock by armed soldiers, a visit to the world’s third tallest building, the Shanghai Tower in Shanghai, and Qiantang Ceramic Art Museum in Hangzhou.
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