The International Editors-in-Chief Roundtable, co-hosted by Global Times and Global Times Online (Huanqiu.com), held its third session on April 15 in Beijing.

Focusing on the theme "China-Africa Community with a Shared Future in the Process of Multipolarization", the event brought together senior media executives from China, Georgia, Liberia, Zimbabwe, and other countries.

Discussions centered on China-Africa strategic mutual trust, technological cooperation, and global governance reform. Participants explored how China and Africa can deepen collaboration in such areas as infrastructure construction and civilizational exchanges and mutual learning to jointly promote the building of a fairer and more inclusive global governance system.

Strategic Guidance: A Shared Path Toward Modernization

As a key member of the Global South, China has consistently promoted solidarity among developing countries, according to participants in the event.

They noted that over the past 25 years since the establishment of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, China and Africa have built a partnership rooted in equality, mutual trust, and win-win development, setting a model for South-South cooperation.

Zhang Wei, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Global Times, emphasized that China and Africa are companions on the road to modernization.

From the Tanzania-Zambia Railway to the Mombasa-Nairobi and Addis Ababa-Djibouti railways, and from the African Union's CDC headquarters to Egypt's Iconic Tower — the tallest building on the continent — China-Africa infrastructure cooperation is widely recognized, he said.

In recent years, Zhang noted, China-Africa cooperation has expanded into the digital sector. He cited Kenya's Konza Technopolis — known as "Africa's Silicon Valley"—as a prime example, pointing out that many core facilities of the technology hub are built by Chinese tech giant Huawei.

Upon completion, the project will create hundreds of thousands of jobs, according to Zhang.

Responding to Western media's "debt trap" narrative, participants underscored that such claims misrepresent the true nature of China-Africa cooperation.

Monica Mpambawashe, Managing Editor of Zim Now, highlighted that China has helped build or upgrade more than 10,000 kilometers of railways, 100,000 kilometers of expressways, and 100 ports across Africa — achievements that far surpass decades of Western aid pledges.

Catherine Gulua, Founder and Director of Georgia's Media Center MTAVARI, further pointed out that through targeted investment, knowledge sharing, and capacity building, China is helping African countries break the cycle of poverty.

Breaking Development Bottlenecks: Empowering Each Other Through Resources and Technology

Media executives highlighted that with the rapid development of emerging fields like the digital economy and renewable energy, African countries are accelerating their integration into global value chains and generating new growth points.

Liu Hong, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Xinhuanet, likened Africa's potential to "diamonds hidden in sand," noting that the continent possesses 60 percent of the world's solar energy potential, abundant untapped oil and mineral resources, vast arable land, and a large, youthful workforce—a true demographic dividend.

Catherine Gulua stressed that global modernization cannot succeed without Africa's modernization.

Monica Mpambawashe added that Africa holds 30 percent of the world's critical minerals. As countries like the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zimbabwe renegotiate mining contracts, they are not merely seeking resource profits but striving for a greater voice and rightful position in global industrial transformations.

Civilizational Exchanges: Building Bridges of Friendship

Many participants shared historical anecdotes and personal experiences that illustrated the deep-rooted connections between China and Africa.

Liu recounted vivid historical moments: during Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's 2022 visit to Africa, Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki recalled his time studying at a military academy in China’s Nanjing over 50 years ago, and Kenya's foreign minister showcased ancient Chinese coins discovered in Mombasa from Chinese Ming Dynasty navigator Zheng He's voyages.

These cross-temporal exchanges underscore the enduring nature of China-Africa friendship, he said.

Catherine Gulua shared personal stories of deep bonds formed with African friends in China. They met in China, grew from colleagues into friends, exchanging information and sharing their cultures.

Participants believe that from ancient relics to contemporary friendships, the vitality of China-Africa cultural exchange remains strong, offering a model of dialogue based on equality and mutual respect.

Innovating Mechanisms: Exploring Paths for Multilateral Cooperation

Against the backdrop of profound changes in the global governance system—marked by rising unilateralism and protectionism—developing countries face greater challenges, intensifying the importance of the China-Africa cooperation model, media leaders pointed out.

Francis D. N. Pelenah, Jr., Director of News at the Liberia Broadcasting System, emphasized that the vision of a China-Africa community with a shared future reflects a shared commitment to sustainable development and poverty eradication.

He praised the tangible results already achieved through the synergies between China's Belt and Road Initiative and the African Union Agenda 2063, noting that China plays a key role in pushing the international order toward a more just and reasonable direction.

Highlighting the media's role in fostering innovative multilateral cooperation, Zhang proposed three pathways: joint content creation, exploration of new technologies, and enhancing the Global South's discourse power.

As chroniclers of history and sentinels of the future, he stressed, media outlets must deliver truthful, objective, and in-depth reporting that introduces the achievements and shared vision of China-Africa cooperation—allowing the world to witness a fairer, more inclusive multipolar order emerging from this partnership.

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