Kinshasa, March 18th, 2026 (CPA).- Journalists from both the public and private sectors of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, alongside those of Xinhua News Agency, have been called upon to become architects of communication that highlights the tangible benefits of cooperation between the two countries, during the DRC–China Media Forum held Wednesday in Kinshasa. “The theme of our forum, ‘Chinese-style modernization and the development path of the DRC: exploration of win-win trajectories,’ calls for deep reflection on our role as communicators. (…) Our mission is to become architects of communication that showcases the real social, economic and technological outcomes of our cooperation,” declared Bienvenu-Marie Bakumanya, Director General of the Congolese Press Agency. “For too long, the narrative of Sino-Congolese partnership has remained fragmented. On one hand, massive investments and infrastructure transforming our landscapes, yet sometimes lacking visibility; on the other, a DRC aspiring to be seen no longer as merely a reservoir of raw materials, but as a major player in the Global South, a land of innovation and solutions,” he explained. According to him, the forum also serves as a technical laboratory enabling media from both countries to better understand each other and jointly tell the success stories of Sino-Congolese friendship. “Alongside Xinhua, we intend to pool our expertise and ensure a stronger media presence of the DRC in China, and vice versa. This framework will allow media from both countries to better understand one another and jointly tell the compelling stories of Sino-Congolese friendship. Colleagues from national and international press, this platform is yours. It represents a unique opportunity to engage with decision-makers and experts to better grasp the challenges of this ‘shared modernization,’” he stressed. He reiterated his thanks to the Minister of Communication and Media and to the Chinese Ambassador, expressing the wish that “our exchanges serve as the cement of an ever-stronger Sino-Congolese friendship, driven by a dynamic, professional and development-oriented press.”
DRC–China Media Forum, an outgrowth of a shared vision by the two Heads of State
A partial view of the participants at the « DRC-China » Media Forum
At the outset of his remarks, the CPA Director General recalled that the event stems from a shared vision between the two Heads of State. “Since the May 2023 visit to China, our nations have reached a decisive milestone. It is within this framework that the Congolese Press Agency and Xinhua News Agency signed their memorandum of understanding. Today, we are moving beyond symbolism into concrete action,” said Bienvenu-Marie Bakumanya. He added that the renewed partnership between the two media institutions is rooted historically in relations dating back to the era of Mobutu Sese Seko and Mao Zedong, while its modern formalization gained new momentum in September 2023 under the leadership of Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo and Xi Jinping. This renewed dynamic, he noted, has led to the organization of this first DRC–China Media Forum, with hopes for future editions. Held under the theme “Chinese-style modernization and the development path of the DRC: joint exploration of new win-win trajectories,” the forum runs from March 18 to 19 in Kinshasa.ACP/