Nape stresses Sino-Tanzania media cooperation

MINISTER of Information, Culture, Arts and Sports, Nape Nnauye, has underscored the importance of cooperation between Tanzanian and Chinese media to share the aspirations of the two countries. “China has advanced economically and technologically…Africa needs to go shoulder by shoulder with China,” he said.

He made the remarks yesterday in Dar es Salaam when opening the China-Africa Public Diplomacy Forum.

The forum, among others, focused on exploring opportunities for future development and share diplomatic perceptions so as to understand the divergence of opinions which could lead to misunderstandings. Nnauye stated that it was important for the media to play a pivotal role in bridging the gap between the people of China and Africa.

“Chinese people are not only our friends but are also our brothers and sisters,” he stressed. He said the media could promote national culture and safeguard stability, noting: “It’s high time the media wakes up to disseminate good news to the world instead of portraying the continent negatively.”

He called for capacity building of the media in the two countries through networking. Africa Union Communication Advisor, Doreen Apollos, said the media have a better chance to promote investment opportunities in China and Africa.

“We need to build understanding between our people for the continent’s development,” she said, adding, “we can also use our economic partnership to showcase our culture.” The Dean of School of Journalism of China and Renmin University, Zhao Qizheng, said he was optimistic that Africa would realise its development dream in the next 20 years.

“If someone today writes in a newspaper that Africa will never achieve its development dream, just keep the paper and show them after twenty years. I am sure Africa would have achieved the dream by that time,” he said.