ABUJA, Dec. 9 (Xinhua) -- China and Nigeria have launched the China-Africa Audiovisual Showcase in Nigeria, a significant bilateral initiative focusing on media and cultural exchange, a vital component of the two countries' comprehensive strategic partnership.
The exhibition, jointly organized by the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), the country's national broadcaster, and the Star TV Network Limited, a Chinese pay-TV provider, was held at the China Cultural Center in Abuja, the Nigerian capital, on Monday.
Shi Zhiyan, director-general of the Department of International Cooperation at China's National Radio and Television Administration, said during the exhibition that the audiovisual exchange is an effective measure to implement the "radio and television innovation cooperation plan" announced under the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) mechanism.
According to Shi, this plan has facilitated substantial program exchanges, including the successful broadcast of Chinese programs like "Mountains and Seas" in Nigeria and Nigerian documentaries on mainstream Chinese channels, deepening mutual understanding.
The newly launched program will feature over 20 excellent Chinese productions authorized for airing on NTA platforms.
Shi emphasized the reciprocal nature of the exchange, welcoming Nigeria to recommend outstanding audiovisual content for broadcast on Chinese platforms, while ensuring that audiences from China can directly "hear African stories."
Nigeria's commitment to the partnership was reiterated by Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris, who was represented at the event by Salihu Dembos, director-general of the NTA. Dembos noted that the Nigerian government remains committed to leveraging such international partnerships to enhance broadcasting capacity and technological competence.
This strategic focus ensures that cultural diplomacy becomes an effective driver of national unity, growth, and global influence, promoting narratives that accurately reflect national identity and values, he said.
Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria Yu Dunhai said that over the past 25 years, the FOCAC has been pivotal in steering the course of the relationship between China and Africa, consistently injecting vital energy into political mutual trust, economic cooperation, and people-to-people exchanges.
"As a vital medium in this effort, audiovisual cooperation bridges our cultural differences and deepens our mutual understanding," said the ambassador.
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