Two reporters of the NEW DAWN are among 30 Liberian journalists currently in China for a two-week intensive training.
CHANGSHA, China; August 4, 2025 – Two journalists from The NEW DAWN Newspaper, Stephen G. Fellajuah and Lewis S. Teh, are part of a 30-member Liberian media delegation currently participating in a 14-day seminar on media communication capacity in Changsha, Hunan Province, China, from August 1-14, 2025.
The seminar is aimed at equipping journalists with advanced skills in integrated media development, international communication strategies, digital media technologies, and the fusion of traditional culture with modern journalism. It forms part of China’s broader initiative to enhance media collaboration across Africa and foster global partnerships through soft-power diplomacy.
Organized by the Hunan International Business Vocational College, a training institution sanctioned by China’s Ministry of Commerce, the program brings together scholars and media experts from across China. Lecturers include Wu Chuanhua, Secretary-General of the China-Africa Institute; Liu Qi Feng, Deputy Director of the Office of Foreign Affairs Committee; Li Peng, Deputy Director of the Hunan Department of Commerce; and Professors Jiang Yanhui and Xie Yuhua of Hunan University’s School of Business Administration.
All Liberian participants received official invitations through the Chinese Embassy in Liberia, underscoring the diplomatic weight behind the initiative.
The seminar is being hosted at the Meyes International Hotel in Changsha and represents a critical step in deepening Liberia–China media relations. It also highlights New Dawn Newspaper’s commitment to global engagement and professional development for its reporters.
At the opening ceremony held on August 1, Mr. Liu Qi, Deputy Division-Level Researcher at the Hunan Department of Commerce, reaffirmed China’s commitment to supporting developing countries through knowledge-sharing and economic cooperation. “We have always stood with developing nations to improve livelihoods and foster sustainable growth,” he noted, emphasizing the media’s role in bridging cultures and shaping public understanding in a globalized world.
Mr. Peng Tieguang, Vice President of the host college, emphasized the importance of human capital development. “This seminar is more than just a training; it’s a bridge between nations, cultures, and shared aspirations,” he said. The college, with over six decades of history, has trained tens of thousands of students from China and across the globe, serving as a key hub for international education in foreign trade.
Participants will also embark on an educational visit to the coastal city of Xiamen, where they will tour cultural and historical sites such as Hulishan Fortress, Strait Herald, and the picturesque Gulangyu Island.
Representing the Liberian cohort, Journalist Nyantee Genero Samuel Togba described the seminar as a “timely and transformative platform” for the country’s media professionals. “These sessions expose us to critical lessons from China’s development journey, its reforms, modernization efforts, and success in poverty alleviation,” he said, adding that the seminar will enhance their capacity to report on global development issues with deeper context.
The event underscores China’s ongoing efforts to position itself as a partner in Africa’s development journey, not just economically, but through cultural and media diplomacy. It further highlights the evolving role of journalism in international cooperation and mutual understanding. Editing by Jonathan Browne
