Deepening Civilizational Exchange and Sharing Development Opportunities
Seeing China·Hubei Media Week in Africa officially opened in Nairobi on June 26, bringing together media leaders, government officials and industry stakeholders from China and Kenya to strengthen cultural ties and expand cooperation in the audiovisual and creative industries.
The event is guided by the National Radio and Television Administration of China and the People’s Government of Hubei Province, and jointly hosted by the Publicity Department of the CPC Hubei Provincial Committee and Hubei Media Group.
Among those who attended and addressed the opening ceremony were Agnes Kalekye Nguna, Chief Executive Officer of the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC); Jane Kinyanjui, Assistant Director General of the Communications Authority of Kenya; Tang Jianjun, Counsellor at the Chinese Embassy in Kenya; and Luo Yabo, Director of the TV Drama Department at Hubei Media Group.
More than 130 representatives from China Media Group Africa, China Daily Africa, Hubei’s broadcasting, online audiovisual, press and publishing sectors, the Kenya Film Commission, the Kenya Publishers Association, and Kenya’s film, television, publishing and media industries also participated.
In his opening remarks, Luo Yabo noted that 2026 has been designated the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges. He described the event as both a practical step toward advancing the China-Kenya community with a shared future and an important platform for strengthening cultural cooperation between Hubei Province and Kenya.
Luo said Hubei has maintained broad cooperation with African countries in trade, culture, education and technology, producing increasingly fruitful results. He expressed hope that the Media Week platform would foster deeper and more practical partnerships with Kenyan counterparts for mutual benefit.
Agnes Kalekye Nguna said KBC has consistently promoted the longstanding friendship between Africa and China through programming covering infrastructure, trade, education and cultural exchange. She noted that the broadcaster has helped present a comprehensive picture of China to Kenyan audiences while also introducing Kenya’s culture, daily life and society to Chinese viewers through audiovisual productions.
She said KBC looks forward to expanding cooperation in cultural exchange, capacity building and joint communication platforms, while continuing to serve as a bridge for Africa-China friendship and collaboration.
Jane Kinyanjui highlighted Hubei’s rich cultural heritage and vibrant media industry alongside Kenya’s rapidly growing audiovisual, entertainment and publishing sectors. She expressed confidence that the event would create mutually beneficial opportunities for institutions, media professionals and audiences in both countries.
She added that the Communications Authority of Kenya is committed to strengthening engagement with Chinese partners through expanded cooperation in audiovisual content exchange, media technology and the development of trusted media platforms.
Tang Jianjun described China and Kenya as true friends, trusted partners and close brothers. He said that under the strategic guidance of the two Heads of State, bilateral relations have continued to deepen, ushering in a new phase of building a China-Kenya community with a shared future in the new era.
He noted that 2026 marks both the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Africa and the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges. According to Tang, Seeing China·Hubei Media Week in Africa is a key initiative under this framework and will play an important role in strengthening friendship between China and Kenya, as well as between China and Africa.
Audiovisual Showcases Strengthen Cultural Exchange
A selection of high-quality documentaries produced by Hubei Media Group and Wuhan Broadcasting and Television Station will be screened and broadcast in Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda and other African countries. The documentaries showcase traditional Chinese culture, ecological conservation and technological innovation.
Industry Presentations Promote Audiovisual Cooperation
Representatives from Hubei Media Group, Hubei Yangtze River Film Group, Hubei Science and Technology Press, and Wuhan Boruntong Culture Technology Co., Ltd. delivered presentations on audiovisual co-production, programme distribution, copyright cooperation, film and television production, and related sectors.
Several cooperation agreements between Chinese and Kenyan institutions were also signed during the opening ceremony, paving the way for stronger collaboration within the China-Africa audiovisual industry.
Exhibition Showcases Hubei’s Development Achievements
The event also featured the Jingchu Audiovisual Excellence Exhibition, which highlighted achievements across radio and television, publishing, film, animation, audiovisual technology, cultural and creative intellectual property, and people-to-people exchanges.
The exhibition displayed 468 exhibits from 43 Hubei media institutions, including award-winning film and television productions, technological innovations, books, film merchandise, intangible cultural heritage products and creative cultural works, offering Kenyan audiences a comprehensive glimpse into Hubei’s media and cultural development.