By Fatou Dahaba
A two-week seminar on news media platforms and management for Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) countries concluded triumphantly in Beijing on October 30, certifying over 27 participants, including four journalists from The Gambia.
Sponsored by the Government of the People’s Republic of China, the program drew delegates from the Gambia, Nigeria, Botswana, Turkey, Jordan, Barbados, and Micronesia. Hosted from October 17 to 30 at the Research and Training Institute (RTI) of the National Radio and Television Administration (NRTA), the event served as a multilateral dialogue platform emphasizing media openness, integration, and mutual progress.
The 14-day initiative aimed to foster greater cooperation between China and BRI nations in media development, building sophisticated human resource capacity for information officers while enhancing operational skills and managerial abilities. Participants engaged in close collaborations and insightful exchanges with Chinese media experts on cross-cutting global issues, including emerging technologies and digital innovation.
Liu Linhai, Vice President of RTI, addressed the closing ceremony, expressing hope that the lectures and discussions would offer professional support and innovative references for media coordination among BRI countries. “We hope that all these lectures and exchanges can provide some sort of professional support and innovations for all of you and provide a reference for the communication and coordination among media from Belt and Road countries,” he stated.
He highlighted the program’s focus on China’s national conditions, innovations in new media platforms, user operations, future media trends, and digital technology. Experts from NRTA, CCTV, China Media Group, the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), and Communication University of China (CMU) led in-depth sessions. Liu emphasized that new media serve as a vital channel for connecting diverse global communities.
Gau, the project coordinator, praised the shared knowledge, experiences, sceneries, and moments that surpassed expectations. “We’ve been to many places together, and we’ve seen the Chinese media, the Chinese customs. During the course of the seminar, we’ve also recorded the knowledge, experiences, and feelings we’ve gained in China through our own perspectives,” Gau said. The immersive journey deepened understanding of Chinese society and promoted exchanges with BRI media counterparts.
Participants returned home optimistic about applying the insights to their daily reporting and advancing information flow in their respective nations. The seminar underscored China’s commitment to accelerating BRI development aspirations.
In a creative highlight, delegates from each country produced mini-documentaries capturing their experiences and stories in China. These videos were screened before dignitaries at the closing ceremony, showcasing personal narratives of cultural immersion and professional growth.
The four certified Gambian journalists join a growing network of BRI media professionals equipped to bridge global narratives. As one participant noted, “This is more than training—it’s a bridge for shared progress.”
