02/08/2025
30 Liberian Journalists Begin Two-Week Media Seminar in China
ADNews- Changsha, China: Thirty Liberian journalists have officially commenced a two-week media seminar in Changsha, Hunan Province, China. The training, themed “Seminar on Media Communication Capacity for Liberia,” is being hosted by the Hunan International Business Vocational College and sponsored by the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China, in collaboration with the Chinese Embassy near Monrovia.
The opening ceremony took place on Friday, August 1, 2025, at the Meyes International Hotel in Changsha.
The seminar aims to enhance the capacity of Liberian media professionals in international reporting and cross-cultural communication. It covers a wide range of themes including: International communications, Local narratives and cross-cultural programming, Innovation in the omni-media era, Producing high-quality new media content, Building a talent ecosystem for future media development among others.
The program will run from August 1 to August 14, 2025, featuring lectures, interactive sessions, cultural immersion, and media facility visits.
Speaking at the opening event, Liu Qi, Deputy-Level Researcher in the E-Commerce Division of the Hunan Provincial Department of Commerce, reaffirmed China’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with developing nations.
“China, as the world’s largest develop country, sees solidarity with developing nations as a strategic priority. Under frameworks such as the Belt and Road Initiative and South-South Cooperation, we’ve helped improve livelihoods and enhance development,” he stated.
Liu highlighted the media’s role in bridging cross-cultural understanding, emphasizing that this seminar is designed to build a platform for international collaboration.
“Media is a powerful bridge for cross-cultural communication and plays a pivotal role in globalization. This seminar will foster mutual learning, deepen dialogue, and enhance the global communication capabilities of Liberian media,” he added.
He also gave a brief cultural and historical overview of Hunan Province, calling it “the land of fish and rice” and the birthplace of Chairman Mao Zedong. He described the capital, Changsha, as a city that blends cultural heritage with modern development.
Peng Tieguang, Vice President of Hunan International Business Vocational College, spoke about the role of China’s foreign aid training programs in fostering international cooperation.
“Our college was one of the first designated by the Ministry of Commerce to train international business officials. Since 2010, we’ve conducted 498 training programs for over 13,000 participants from developing countries, covering topics such as governance, public health, media, and engineering,” he noted.
Mr. Peng emphasized the importance of sharing China’s development experience and technological innovations with partner nations under the Belt and Road Initiative.
Representing the Liberian delegation, Nyantee Genero Samuel Togba, expressed gratitude for the opportunity and described the seminar as timely and impactful.
“This training offers an extraordinary platform to explore Chinese culture and understand new-era developments in China, especially as Liberian media faces evolving challenges and opportunities,” he said.
Togba noted that Liberia’s adherence to the One China Policy has yielded significant national development benefits, citing Chinese-supported projects such as:The Ministerial Complex housing multiple government agencies, plan to construct overpass bridges, Infrastructure at the University of Liberia, serving over 5,000 students.
“These initiatives highlight strong diplomatic ties built on mutual respect and shared development goals,” he remarked.
Togba called on the Hunan International Business Vocational College and the Chinese Embassy in Monrovia to continue providing such opportunities to media professionals and technical experts.
In addition to classroom lectures, the participants will engage in field visits and cultural experiences. The itinerary includes: A visit to the city of Xiamen, Tours of Hulishan Fortress, Strait Herald, and Gulangyu Island, Sightseeing in Changsha on weekends.
The seminar will also address key themes including: China’s political, economic, and social reforms, Modernization and infrastructure growth, China-Africa development cooperation, Poverty alleviation strategies, Expanding international cooperation and engagement.
Founded over 70 years ago, Hunan International Business Vocational College is a leading provincial institution in China. It is the first college officially approved by the Ministry of Commerce as a training base for international officials.
Supported by the China International Development Cooperation Agency and various provincial departments, the college has hosted 498 China-aid training programs and trained 13,334 officials and experts as of the end of 2024.
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