The premiere of popular Chinese TV soapie Beijing Love Story was widely hailed as a major cultural breakthrough in the Nigerian capital of Abuja on September 18. Dubbed into Hausa, one of Nigeria's major languages, the drama formed part of the Experience China program held by China's State Council Information Office (SCIO) in Abuja from September 10 to 19.

China will provide Nigeria with documentaries and other TV programs free of charge, according to the agreement signed between SCIO and the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) on September 17. The first series of TV programs schedules for prime time screening includes 12 documentaries that feature China's development in the economic, political and cultural sectors, and improvement in people's livelihoods.

"There are many Nigerians coming to China, and also many Chinese going to Nigeria. Nigerians want to learn more about China," said Li Wufeng, Vice Minister of the SCIO. The Experience China program is designed to use people-to-people exchange as a more accessible tool to drive the promotion of Sino-African relations.

Coinciding with the Experience China program, the people of Abuja benefited from a China Library project, offering computers and books on Chinese culture donated by the SCIO.

Zhang Dejiang, Chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, unveiled the new Nigeria China Cultural Center, where the library is located. During his official visit to Nigeria and Uganda, China's top legislator told the media he was keen to expand cultural and social communication, cement the foundation of people-to-people friendship and strengthen cooperation in international and regional affairs to safeguard common interests.

As part of the expansion of cultural and social communication initiatives, there has been a sharp increase in Chinese media setting up operations in Africa. At a media forum held on September 19 in Abuja, those participating agreed to overcome any obstacles in presenting an authentic image of China to an African audience and vice-versa.

Media cooperation has developed more slowly than other areas of the China-Africa bilateral relationship and that imbalance is now being addressed with much energy. Both China and Africa are aware that to promote their points of view to each other and the world, operating an efficient media operation is essential. While expanding global reach in the 21st century through think tanks and cultural organizations is an international trend, the immediate impact media can have in this thrust is obvious. To the reader, viewer or listener of news and information, what really matters is the perspective that news and information is coming from and that it promotes understanding and dilutes misunderstandings. On the evidence of current China media operations in Africa, this process is well underway. CA