Speech at the Launch of ChinAfrica Magazine's

Special Issuefor the Johannesburg Summit of FOCAC

Li Yafang

   President, BEIJING REVIEW

(December 3, 2015) 

Your Excellency, Minister Jiang Jianguo of the State Council Information Office,

Respected Mr. Nolo Letele, Chairman of Multichoice and Director of Naspers Group,

Respected Media Liaison Officer of the Office of the President of South Africa ,

Respected Mr. Yang Peidong, Chinese Consul General to Johannesburg,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Friends,

Good morning.

Today, at this grand ceremony hosted by the State Council Information Office of China to launch ChinAfrica Magazine's Special Issue for the Johannesburg Summit of FOCAC, I am honored to express my heartfelt gratitude. On behalf of BEIJING REVIEW, the publisher of ChinAfrica, I would like to take this opportunity to extend our sincere thanks to the State Council Information Office, Naspers Group, and all others who have made contributions to the publication of this Summit Special Issue. I would also like to extend a warm welcome to all distinguished guests and friends from the media attending this ceremony.

          Beijing Review is China's leading national English news weekly. Besides being distributed throughout China, it has a wide readership in more than 150 other countries and regions. Since its launch in 1958, the magazine has remained committed to presenting the real China to the outside world and elaborating China's views on the world. Beijing Review reports and comments on China's social, political, economic and cultural affairs, provides updates on government policies, and offers in-depth analyses and views on major regional and international events. Due to its outstanding role, in 2009, Beijing Review was awarded one of the Most Influential Periodicals in the 60 Years of the People's Republic of China and ranked among the 2015 Top 100 Social Sciences Periodicals in China.

As part of BEIJING REVIEW's global outreach, ChinAfrica was launched in 1988. Published both in English and French, ChinAfrica is a monthly magazine of news, views and analyses, targeting the African audience. Ever since its launch, the magazine has been dedicated to enhancing communication and promoting comprehensive cooperation between China and African countries. 

While reporting and commenting on major events in China and Africa, ChinAfrica has been focusing on the exchanges and cooperation between them in diverse areas, demonstrating their respective economic strengths and unique cultures. It tells the moving stories of ordinary Chinese and Africans, portraying the merits and good things they see in each other. It tells the stories of Chinese businesses in Africa, often untold by Western media. Also, it places great emphasis on reporting major events on the African continent, highlighting the fact that China and Africa have always been a community of shared destiny and interests. All in all, following what is happening in Africa, reporting them and telling the China and Africa stories have remained the mission of ChinAfrica. 

This year, ChinAfrica received a national honor – 2015 The Beauty of Periodicals in China – for the best designed Chinese journal with the best content.

To mark the Johannesburg Summit, ChinAfrica, under the guidance of the State Council Information Office, has brought out this Special Issue which provides a comprehensive report on the fruits of China-Africa cooperation in major sectors since the establishment of FOCAC 15 years ago. 

Our Special Issue has China's ministers of foreign affairs, agriculture, culture and national health and family planning throwing light on the all-round development of friendly and cooperative ties between China and Africa. It has Chinese and African experts and scholars elaborating their views on major issues in China-Africa relations, as well as human interest stories about pragmatic cooperation in diverse areas.

For this Special Issue, Chinese President Xi Jinping and South African President Jacob Zuma both sent us their congratulatory messages. President Xi's message highlights the close attention China's top leadership gives to Sino-African relations and to expanding exchanges and cooperation between us. It also extends Chinese people's profound friendship and best wishes to African people. The message is a recognition and encouragement of our coverage of China and Africa as well.

The Special Issue, besides being meant for delegates at the Summit, will have an additional 211,000 copies distributed in Africa through Naspers' channels. This will enable more African friends to learn about the current status quo of Sino-African cooperation.

Today, more than 40 friends from China and South Africa are here witnessing the launch of our Special Issue. It indicates their expectations that media exchanges will promote greater mutual understanding. BEIJING REVIEW will, under the guidance of the State Council Information Office, seek to accomplish its mission of portraying the real China and Africa to its readers. It will also endeavor to play a greater role in promoting press and cultural exchanges as well as China-Africa cooperation characterized by sincerity, real results, affinity and good faith. We appreciate the continued support from all of you to Beijing Review and ChinAfrica and hope to enjoy it always.

Thank you!