The General Manager of the Ghana News Agency (GNA), Mr Albert Kofi Owusu, has lauded China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), describing it as a visionary framework that continues to foster development partnerships and strengthen solidarity across the Global South.
“Ladies and gentlemen, under the visionary leadership of President Xi Jinping, China’s Belt and Road Initiative stands as a powerful testament to fostering development partnerships that benefit the Global South.
“This initiative has transformed the narrative for nations across Africa, the Caribbean, and beyond, offering new hope, recognition, and respect on the global stage,” Mr Owusu said at the closing ceremony of a two-week seminar in Beijing, China.
The programme dubbed: “Seminar for Senior Management of Mainstream Media in countries along the Belt and Road Initiative,” was organised by the China Broadcasting International Economic and Technical Cooperation (CBIC) and sponsored by the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China.
It brought together 30 media executives from the Belt and Road countries across Africa, Caribbean and part of Europe.
On behalf of the participants, Mr Owusu expressed profound gratitude to the organisers for their dedication and support throughout the programme, describing the seminar as enriching and worthwhile.
Mr Owusu observed that under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, the Belt and Road Initiative had brought renewed hope and recognition to countries in Africa, the Caribbean, and other developing regions, while offering a platform for mutual respect and cooperation on the global stage.
Reflecting on the study visits as part of the seminar, Mr Kofi Owusu highlighted the impressive achievements of China, including desert reclamation projects in Ningxia, advances in agricultural technology, and the preservation of cultural heritage such as the Xixia Dynasty sites and the Great Wall.
He noted that these experiences, had deepened participants’ appreciation of China’s development path, which could be a learning curve for other countries.
“More importantly, this programme has created invaluable connections among media professionals from diverse countries, enriching our shared understanding of Africa’s immense potential and strengthening our collective voice,” he added.
Mr Owusu commended CBIC for its exemplary work over the past 18 years in training thousands of media practitioners worldwide, stressing that such initiatives had reinforced friendship and cooperation between China and other nations.
He further expressed confidence that African journalists would apply the knowledge gained to report on the evolving partnerships more effectively between China and Africa.
The GNA Chief congratulated participants for their commitment and encouraged them to build on the lessons learnt to strengthen the enduring bond between Africa and China.
Ms Ntombi Lydia Maseko, the Manager Outreach Programmes and Community Engagement, City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality, South Africa, said the green technological advancement of the Chinese government was a strategic response to food security and environmental pollution currently experienced globally because of climate change.
She called for strengthened cooperation between China and Africa to help the latter continent to address its pressing challenges.
Mr He Dongbo, the Deputy General Manager, CBIC, said China would continue to open its doors for partnerships and was ready to share its technology to the rest of the world.
