A proactive media can play an important role in strengthening relations between China and African countries, especially through more cultural exchanges and people-to-people interactions.

This was the message by Li Yafang, President of Beijing Review, the flagship weekly of the China International Publishing Group, at the Fourth China-Africa People's Forum held in Yiwu, a commercial hub in east China's Zhejiang Province, on August 26.

Speaking on "New Opportunities for China-Africa Cooperation: People's Perspectives," Li said the media has a major role to play in dispelling stereotyped notions and promoting shared dreams. Platforms like the forum and other media support were helping forge better ties between China and Africa.

Li told the audience comprising local and foreign journalists that the Beijing Review magazine offers attachment opportunities to African journalists visiting China every year. The program has created a base for African and Chinese journalists to interact and create synergy. It has helped bridge gaps and promote mutual understanding as well as enhance people-to-people contacts. Such cooperation, she pointed out, could create resources and opportunities for both sides.

Profiling Beijing Review and its sister publication, ChinAfrica monthly magazine, Li said they have been steadily focusing on China-Africa relations and remain the only authoritative magazines in China regularly reporting on the culture, investment and tourism potential in Africa and China.

"We also concentrate on Chinese and African youth development programs that promote people-to-people relations," she said.

The event was hosted by the China NGO Network for International Exchanges and the Economic, Social and Cultural Council of the African Union with the support of the Peoples' Government of Yiwu. The attendees included political leaders, government officials, diplomats, nongovernmental organization representatives and youth organizations from 30 African countries as well as China.

The forum, launched in Nairobi, Kenya, in 2011, have subsequently been held in Suzhou, China (2012) and Khartoum, Sudan (2014).