By Ebrima Mbaye in Jinhua, China
Zhejiang Normal University launched its Seminar for Young Media Professionals from Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) countries on October 31, 2025, welcoming delegates from nations including The Gambia, Tanzania, Egypt, and Zimbabwe to its picturesque campus in the ancient city of Jinhua. The two-week program aims to foster media collaboration, digital innovation, and cultural ties under the BRI framework.
The opening ceremony set an optimistic tone, with Prof. Zhu Yifeng, the university’s vice president, extending a warm greeting to the international cohort. He portrayed the institution as a hub of educational excellence and global innovation, underscoring its role in building bridges through learning and exchange.
“The Belt and Road Initiative transcends mere infrastructure and commerce,” Prof. Zhu stated. “It serves as a conduit for human connections, with young media professionals acting as vibrant narrators and connectors.” He urged attendees to harness their influence to promote mutual understanding, intercultural dialogue, and collective progress among BRI partners.
Participants expressed enthusiasm for the agenda, eager to explore China’s media evolution, digital shifts, and creative sectors. Many anticipated forging lasting partnerships and sparking media breakthroughs within the BRI ecosystem.
Prof. Zhu inaugurated the academic sessions with a lecture on “Understanding China: The Communist Party of China and Chinese Modernization,” offering a foundational examination of China’s governance principles and path to modernity.
That afternoon, Mr. Xu Xia’en, president of the Jinhua Branch of Zhejiang Daily Press Group, conducted a hands-on workshop on Chinese media operations. He shared strategies for thriving in a fast-changing information environment, offering practical takeaways for the group.
The second day intensified with expert-led discussions. Mr. Wang Jianbo, a columnist for Global Times and the United Nations Postal Administration, explored “Individual Behavior and National Image in the Era of Social Media.” His talk sparked lively debates, as delegates from The Gambia, Tanzania, Egypt, and Zimbabwe examined how online platforms influence cross-border perceptions and storytelling.
An international roundtable on “University Media in the New Era,” moderated by Associate Professor Liu Xiumin, facilitated the sharing of experiences and ideas on reforming media education.
Gambian representatives took a proactive stance. Modou Lamin Sanneh, Secretary General of the MAJaC Students’ Union, and Nelson Manneh, a journalist and board member of the Gambia Press Union, pitched a student exchange between the Media Academy for Journalism and Communication (MAJaC) and Zhejiang Normal University. The proposal aims to enhance Gambian trainees’ skills through immersion in China’s cutting-edge media practices and digital tools.
University officials signaled interest in pursuing the idea through their International Relations Office. “Sino-Gambian collaboration is essential for durable media infrastructures and robust development journalism,” Sanneh remarked.
After three days of rigorous indoor activities, the group relocated to Huzhou on November 3, where they will remain until November 6. The schedule features site visits to Yucun Village in Anji, Ping’an Training Base, Taihu Dragon Dream, and South Taihu New District—exemplars of China’s environmental stewardship and grassroots development.
The program proceeds to Nanjing for cultural immersion, including tours of the Nanjing Museum and the Jingling Art Museum, before returning to Jinhua for campus media workshops and a trip to Yiwu, the global trade hub.
Throughout, attendees are immersing in China’s media prowess and cultural depth, embodying the BRI’s ethos of joint education, creativity, and cross-continental camaraderie. As exchanges unfold, the seminar reinforces people-to-people bonds, equipping young professionals to narrate shared futures.
