BEIJING — Somalia’s Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Abdulfatah Qasim Mohamud, has officially opened the 7th Africa-China Media Cooperation Forum in Beijing, where he is participating alongside media ministers, heads of media agencies, and senior officials from across Africa and China.
The forum focuses on strengthening Africa-China cooperation in the media sector, modernizing media institutions, adopting new technologies, enhancing professional skills, and facilitating experience sharing.
Minister Qasim is expected to deliver a speech at the forum addressing media development in the region, strengthening Somalia-China cooperation in media, and developing the capacity of Somalia’s media institutions.
Somalia’s engagement with China has been deepening across multiple sectors. The country has participated in the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) ministerial meetings, where China reaffirmed its commitment to sharing the benefits of its modernization with Africa by providing access to its vast market and offering new development opportunities.
While in Beijing, Minister Qasim has also held meetings with Chinese officials, including Cao Shumin, China’s minister overseeing radio and television. The talks focused on cooperation, joint initiatives, and the development of the two countries’ media sectors. The Somali minister thanked the Chinese government for its reception and expressed readiness to strengthen cooperation in broadcasting, media, and culture.
Strengthening Media and Cultural Ties
Somalia and China have recently boosted media and cultural ties. The two countries have signed a memorandum of understanding to modernize media institutions, including repairs to Radio Mogadishu studios and the National Theatre. The National Theatre, originally built by the Chinese government in 1967, has been a symbol of the longstanding friendship between the two nations.
Minister Qasim has previously met with Chinese Ambassador to Somalia Wang Yu to discuss enhancing practical cooperation and capacity building in the fields of information, media, and culture. Both sides agreed to strengthen exchanges and coordination, and jointly safeguard the national sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of both countries.
Closer cooperation in the media sector could provide Somalia opportunities for professional training, digital broadcasting, content production, and technological development, while also strengthening cultural exchanges between the two countries.
Africa-China Media Cooperation
The forum takes place against a backdrop of growing China-Africa engagement in the media and communications sectors, as African broadcasters seek to expand digital capacity and develop locally produced content. China continues to expand media and audiovisual cooperation with African countries, including through content exchanges, technical cooperation, journalist training, and broadcasting partnerships.
For Somalia, which is rebuilding its media infrastructure after decades of conflict, the opportunity to engage with Chinese media institutions is particularly valuable. The country has already benefited from Chinese support for its cultural and media institutions, including technical training, content exchange, and restoration of national heritage institutions.
Critical Note
Minister Qasim’s participation in the Africa-China Media Cooperation Forum reflects Somalia’s continued engagement with Beijing as a key partner in media development and infrastructure. However, the practical benefits of these diplomatic engagements remain uncertain. While Somalia has signed agreements and participated in forums, translating these commitments into tangible improvements in media capacity and infrastructure has been slow.
Strengthening media institutions is essential for improving public access to information, supporting democratic processes, and building a modern communications industry. Yet Somalia’s media sector continues to face significant challenges, including limited resources, inadequate infrastructure, and concerns about press freedom and government influence. The government must ensure that media cooperation with China translates into genuine capacity building and professional development for Somali journalists, rather than serving primarily as a platform for diplomatic posturing.
