-Through Intensive Two-Week Media Seminar in Beijing
BEIJING, China – A substantial step toward strengthening the bilateral ties between the Republic of Liberia and the People’s Republic of China evolved on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, as a delegation of 25 Liberian media practitioners commenced a rigorous two-week capacity-building seminar in the Chinese capital.
The program, officially titled the “Seminar on Media Communication Capacity Building for Liberia,” is being hosted by the Research and Training Institute of the National Radio and Television Administration (NRTA) and is scheduled to conclude on October 27, 2026.
Since 2023, approximately 100 Liberian media practitioners have traveled to China to participate in various media-related seminars and capacity-building programs, underscoring a deepening commitment to media cooperation between the two nations.
The opening ceremony, held at the NRTA’s Research and Training Institute, marked the formal beginning of an intensive training program designed to bridge media practices and foster mutual understanding between Liberia and China.
Gao Xi, Chief Editor of the Research and Training Institute, hosted the opening session. The ceremony featured a welcome address from Mr. Bai Sama G. Best, Managing Director of the Liberian Observer Corporation, who also serves as the head of the Liberian delegation.
Speaking on behalf of the 23 journalists present at the opening, Mr. Best expressed deep gratitude to the Chinese government for the invitation. He highlighted the diverse makeup of the delegation, which includes representatives from state-owned media, independent newspapers, broadcasters, and digital platforms.
“We have come not only to learn, but also to further nurture the spirit of friendship and cooperation between Liberia and China,” Best said during his remarks. “The media industry is undergoing profound transformation, driven by digital technology, changing audience habits, and new approaches to storytelling. We look forward to learning from China’s experiences in media convergence and digital innovation.”
Following the opening ceremony, the first official lecture was delivered by Chang Jin, a Second-level Counselor from the NRTA’s Department of International Cooperation. Chang Jin provided the Liberian journalists with an “Overview of China’s Radio and Television Sector & International Cooperation and Exchanges.”
During his address, Chang Jin welcomed the participants and established a personal connection with them, noting that he had attended a three-month training program in the same classroom in October 2009. “Since we have studied in the same classroom, I think I can call you my fellow alumni. This gives us a special connection,” he remarked.
Chang Jin used the platform to provide a comprehensive introduction to contemporary China, outlining the outcomes of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee. The session introduced the participants to the structure of China’s media landscape and the regulatory work of the NRTA.
In the afternoon, the delegates participated in an orientation and team-building session led by Gao Xi, which focused on training objectives, life guidance in Beijing, and a detailed briefing on the agenda for the remaining days. Also, the seminar’s first full day concluded with the participants settling into their new environment.
On Thursday, the Liberian journalists attended lectures on topics ranging from “Chinese Path to Modernization and Media Communication” to “Global Communication Trends in the Digital Age” and “Fighting Disinformation in the Internet Era.” The academic program featured prominent Chinese scholars and media professionals. Ran Jijun, Professor and Head of the English Department at China Foreign Affairs University, lectured on the Chinese path to modernization and media communication.
Zhang Weiwei, an Associate Professor at the University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, addressed China’s news reporting practices and innovation. Zhang Yanqiu, a Professor at the Communication University of China, led sessions on the concept of constructive journalism and news literacy in the digital era.
The curriculum also includes lectures from Li Yu, a Division-Chief and Senior Journalist at the International Communication Planning Bureau of China Media Group (CMG), and Sun Jiwen, a Former Chinese Ambassador to the Republic of Gabon. Moreover, the program itinerary includes cultural visits to iconic landmarks such as the National Stadium, known as the Bird’s Nest, and the National Aquatics Center, or Water Cube.
Participants will also visit the China Central Television Tower, the Great Wall at Juyongguan, and the Yongding Gate and Hongqiao Market. A considerable portion of the seminar will take place outside the classroom. From October 18 to October 22, the delegation will travel to Anji County in Huzhou City, Zhejiang Province.
There, they will engage in site visits to Yucun Village, the birthplace of the concept “Lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets,” and the Anji Exhibition Center for Bamboo as a Substitute for Plastics. The delegation will also visit the Anji County Smart Governance Center and the Anji White Tea Cultural and Creative Complex.
These site visits aim to provide the Liberian journalists with firsthand exposure to China’s rural revitalization strategies and green development models. The hosting institution, the Research and Training Institute of the NRTA, plays a pivotal role in China’s international media outreach. As a bureau-level public institution directly under the NRTA, it serves as the largest education and training institution in China’s radio and television industry.
The Institute provides Party school training, civil servant training, and international media seminars under the Belt and Road Initiative and the “Go Global” policy. It has established a comprehensive radio and television international aid training system, complete with a dedicated faculty and training mechanism.
Since 2005, the RTI has undertaken 253 international training programs sponsored by the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the NRTA, and the International Department of the CPC Central Committee. These programs are conducted in multiple languages, including English, French, Russian, Arabic, Spanish, and Portuguese.
By the end of 2024, 6,740 government officials, middle and senior managers from media organizations, senior editors and journalists, and technicians from 163 developing countries and regions had participated in various training programs, both online and offline. The seminar occurs against the backdrop of strengthening China-Liberia bilateral relations.
Official relations between the two nations began in 1977, and in recent years, both investment and foreign aid from China to Liberia have increased significant
Bilateral trade between Liberia and China increased by 16 percent year-on-year during the first seven months of 2026, as both countries seek to deepen economic
cooperation under their strategic partnership.
Chinese Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Fan Erwei disclosed the increase on September 29, 2026, during a reception in Congo Town marking the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. As the seminar progresses, the Liberian journalists will engage in case studies on innovative media cooperation between China and Liberia.
These sessions aim to facilitate the exchange of views on future cooperation and ways to jointly boost the media communication capacity of both countries. The program will conclude on October 27, 2026, with a closing ceremony that includes participant representative speeches, leader speeches, certificate awarding, and the presentation of souvenirs.
The Research and Training Institute insists on serving the national comprehensive strategies on diplomacy, international communication, and international aid, fully displaying the unique role of international aid training in diplomacy.
