In quite a strategic move to reinforce its Global Civilisation Initiative (GCI), China has organised a seminar focusing on ‘new media’, that will see focus and attention turned to international media collaborations.
The “Seminar on New Media Management Leaders under the Global Civilization Initiative” is bringing together 32 participants from 10 countries, with Kenya having a privilege to be represented by two outstanding and experienced journalists— TV47 and Radio47’s Elizabeth Mutuku, and The Star’s Moses Aliwa.
Sponsored by China’s Ministry of Commerce and organized by Hunan International Business Vocational College, the 14-day training programme’s main objective is to foster cross-cultural dialogue and share expertise in new media management.
The eye-opening seminar kicked off on a high note on Friday, June 13, with participants from Kenya, Comoros, Cuba, Erbil, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Grenada, Türkiye, Jordan, and Cambodia.
The delegates were quickly introduced to the nitty-gritties of the forum— China’s commitment to global knowledge exchange. Officials from the Hunan college underscored the program’s role in strengthening international ties through media innovation.
“This seminar marks our 15th consecutive year hosting media-focused training,” Xu Qianya, an official from the college, said. “We aim to provide participants with insights into China’s advanced media landscape while learning from their diverse experiences.”
The delegates will be treated to once-in-a-lifetime experience, including but not limited to lectures by Hunan-based media experts, visits to leading media institutions like Hunan Broadcasting Group, Shenzhen Television Station, and Shenzhen Newspaper Group, as well as field trips to Guangzhou and Shenzhen to showcase China’s urban development and technological progress.
The seminar could not have come at a better time, especially for Kenya, with President William Ruto and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping already laying out a political goodwill to elevated ties between the two countries.
In April 2025, President Ruto made a state visit to China, with the two heads of state announcing the decision to build a China-Kenya community with a shared future for the new era. “Kenya and China are not merely trade partners; we are co-architects of a new world order – one that is fair, inclusive, and sustainable,” President Ruto said during the visit.
For Mutuku, this is a valuable opportunity to “exchange ideas and explore partnerships with Chinese media leaders.”
With over 70 years of experience in international training, Hunan International Business Vocational College has equipped professionals from 100+ countries.
“We hope this fosters lasting collaborations,” the college added, signaling China’s ambition to position itself as a hub for global media innovation.
