Cultural exchanges between China and Africa are growing at a rapid rate, with communication and cooperation in different forms being carried out. In the fall of 2011, a group of Chinese journalists journeyed through eight African countries with the support of the Chinese Ministry of Culture. Their travels brought them in contact with ministers of culture from Senegal, Nigeria, Tanzania, Mauritius, Ethiopia and Benin, whose opinions on Sino-African exchange now find their way into the pages of ChinAfrica.

Mme Awa Ndiaye

Minister of Culture of Senegal

The first president of Senegal was an artist. It was his efforts to promote cultural exchange between Senegal and other countries that made our country better known to the international community. So for us, cultural exchange is an important bridge to communication with others. Our present President Wade also puts cultural exchange first. It's a tool for us to build connections with the rest of the world.

Cultural exchange with China is important for Senegal. The Chinese Government has helped us a lot on major projects. We are about to embark on a project for an African civilization museum, and our new national theater is an important project in our cultural exchange. We are waiting the for next year's Spring Festival to arrive since it brings Chinese artists to Senegal. They will be able to perform in the new national theater during the festival. It will be an important moment. It's a magnificent building, and we hope friends from all around the world will perform there to showcase their different cultures.

Edem Duke

Minister of Tourism, Culture & National Orientation of Nigeria

Nigeria is a country of diversity. Every region has its distinctive culture and language. This cultural diversity strengthens our cultural cohesiveness. I cannot tell you how many Nigerians exactly are interested in Chinese culture, but there are many children learning through films about Chinese culture, about culture like kungfu and acrobatics. Today, as the Internet develops, young people have even more access to Chinese culture, which increases their desire to travel to China. There is a university in our country where graduates can choose to go abroad to study a trade course. Among all the destinations possible, China is the hottest one.

We plan to send more artists to China in 2012 to promote Nigerian culture and investment. Some of our young people recently spent a year learning acrobatics in China. Now they are back performing around Africa and we are proud of their skills.

Fenella Mukangara

Deputy Minister of Information, Youth, Culture & Sport of Tanzania

China and Tanzania have a long history of friendship. Every Tanzanian knows that China is our friend. The cultural exchanges between our two sides never stop. I read Selected Works of Mao Zedong translated into Swahili when I was a college student. Today, Chinese artistic groups come to perform for Tanzanian people yearly, and we learn even more about China. One of these events, "Happy Spring Festival," has become very famous, building a bridge for cultural exchange between our countries.

Recently, a popular Chinese television drama was translated into Swahili and broadcast in Tanzania. The drama focused on relationship problems between a mother-in-law and her daughter-in-law – problems that also exist in people's lives here. The show echoed with Tanzanian audiences. There were even some men who enjoyed it. I know I did. I think it depicted a picture of modern China.

I hope we can strengthen our cultural exchanges, particularly by sending young Tanzanians to study in China. Young people are Tanzania's future. We are hopeful they can bring back China's advanced experiences in development, making Tanzanians' lives better.

Choonee Mookhesswur

Minister of Arts & Culture of Mauritius

China has helped us in many fields. On the cultural end of things, we have China's support in initiatives in music, acrobatics and sculpture. Since 2008, there are regular visits by large troupes coming from China. We also send troupes to China. While we have less people to send, we have a lot we can learn from China.

We really like what China gives us in terms of cultural exchange. Mauritius is the first country in the world to have a Chinese Cultural Center. Since it was established in 1998, it has been so dynamic and offered so many activities that today we are very proud of its efforts. There are a lot of exhibitions, training, exchanges, talks and regular classes. The demand for Mandarin classes is so high. We see many Mauritians wanting to learn Mandarin at the center. That means that the Chinese Cultural Center is doing excellent work. Everybody likes experiencing face-to-face connections. It's a model that should be replicated everywhere in the world.

Amin Abdulkadir

Minister of Culture& Tourism of Ethiopia

Ethiopia and China signed a Cultural Cooperation Agreement in 1988. Based on this agreement, a series of implementation programs on culture and arts were initiated. Our current bilateral cultural program is valid for the years 2010-13.

 Areas of exchange include ministerial visits between China and Ethiopia, exchange of cultural and folk music groups and exhibition exchanges. China's Ministry of Culture has also provided capacity-building assistance to various departments in our ministry.

Recently, development cooperation taking place between our two countries has focused attention on various investment opportunities in Ethiopia. As a result, the Chinese Government – especially the Ministry of Culture – is dispatching cultural delegates to Ethiopia to acquaint Ethiopians with various ways of life in China. Their emphasis is on music, arts and handicrafts exchanges.

In general, and especially in the last decade, the cultural exchange programs conducted between China and Ethiopia have helped people in both countries to learn more about each other.

Valentin Djenontin-Agossou

Minister Of Culture Of Benin

Benin and China have a 50-year history of cultural exchange. It was interrupted once, but has boomed since 1980, in part due to the help of the Chinese Cultural Center. Benin is lucky to have one of four of these centers in Africa. I can't imagine what our cultural exchange efforts would be like without it. It's an important platform through which Benin's people can learn more about China and its language. Chinese experts have come to teach handicraft skills to Benin's artists. Others can also take training courses. People like this kind of cooperation.

I hope all of our cultural exchange agreements can be successfully carried out. I hope China can help us to build a language lab, since the Beninese are increasingly interested in learning Mandarin. I know Chinese people love traveling, and hope we can cooperate with Chinese tourism bodies to attract more Chinese visitors to Benin. We'd like to see Chinese people in Benin in general; once they see what is available here for tourists, they can tell more Chinese.