The media has been hailed for being instrumental and playing a pivotal role in promoting ties between China and African countries.

This is according to the deputy director of China International Communication Group and Institute of International Studies and Advanced Training (CICG IISAT) Fan Feng.

Feng said that with the development of China – Africa relations, the changes in communication among media is playing a more and more important role.

She was speaking during the closing ceremony of a seminar for heads of the international departments of major media outlets from African countries in China.

“The China – Africa relations have a long history and our friendship remains strong, during the anti-imperialist and anti-colonial fight we have forged an unbreakable friendship and we have placed a distinctive path of cooperation during the course of development and revitalization” she said.

Adding "We have written wonderful chapters in the midst of the complicated changes and we have also set shining examples of building new types of international relations,” said Feng.

The media she said, can serve as a bridge to disseminate information, conduct exchanges and promote mutual understanding and friendship of the people from China and African countries.

She said that the seminar was aimed to create a platform for exchanges in communication to act as a bridge of building communication among media and to deepen China – Africa mutual understanding and trust.

The seminar, she added, also aimed to have more mutual support on the part of development, and to build a genuine and cordial partnership on the basis of mutual respect, equality and reciprocity.

“The close economic activities between China and Africa and the people-to-people exchanges of knowledge are more coming up,” she said.

The seminar organised by the China Interational Communications group institute of international studies and advanced training brought together journalists from Kenya, Burundi, Angola, Mauritius, Tunisia, Nigeria and Ghana.

The establishment of the China – Africa relations also referred to as Sino – African relations dates back to late 1950s when China signed bilateral trade agreements with Egypt, Algeria, Guinea, South Africa and Sudan.

The relations have grown over the years with China keen on fostering bilateral and development ties with Africa.