BEIJING, Aug. 19 — Audio-visual media is expected to play a central role in strengthening people-to-people exchanges between China and Africa as preparations intensify for the 7th China-Africa Media Cooperation Forum.
The forum, held under the theme “Sharing New Opportunities for Development, Co-creating a New Future for Audio-visual Media,” will focus on leveraging audio-visual media to promote people-to-people exchanges, support economic and trade cooperation and foster youth engagement.
The forum forms part of the 2026 China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges, with audio-visual cooperation identified as an important platform for bringing the peoples of China and Africa closer together.
According to the organisers, China-Africa audio-visual cooperation has evolved from the exchange and broadcasting of individual programmes to broader collaboration involving joint productions, language dubbing, media exchanges, technological cooperation and industrial partnerships.
The progress is being driven through the China-Africa Audio-visual Innovation Cooperation Initiative, which seeks to translate agreements and commitments made at previous China-Africa Media Cooperation Forums into practical and sustainable projects.
The initiative has also strengthened the role of radio, television and online audio-visual platforms in promoting cultural understanding and dialogue between the two sides. The previous six China-Africa Media Cooperation Forums have provided an important foundation for the expansion of media collaboration.
The 6th Forum brought together more than 500 representatives from 45 African countries and international organisations and introduced a high-level China-Africa Think Tank Dialogue. It also featured a central showcase of Beijing’s audio-visual achievements and contributed to the implementation of several cooperation agreements.
At policy level, China’s National Radio and Television Administration (NRTA) has intensified cooperation with African countries. Since 2024, it has signed 15 agreements with media authorities and institutions in countries including Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon and Tunisia.
The agreements are aimed at broadening cooperation in broadcasting and audio-visual media while creating opportunities for greater content exchange and collaboration.
Beijing has also strengthened policy support for international audio-visual communication, including establishing a specialised policy framework and a dedicated fund supporting international communication, transnational co-productions and the expansion of audio-visual content into overseas markets.
The organisers say these developments demonstrate a shift towards a more systematic and sustainable model of China-Africa audio-visual cooperation.
The 7th China-Africa Media Cooperation Forum is expected to build on these achievements and further explore innovative ways in which audio-visual media can serve as a bridge between China and Africa.
The forum will also highlight how visual storytelling can promote mutual understanding, showcase cultural diversity and strengthen friendship among the peoples of China and Africa.
Ends/NT
