China-Africa Press Exchange Center
Established in 2014 by China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the China-Africa Press Center (CAPC) functions as a key component of Beijing’s media diplomacy in Africa. The center invites selected African journalists for 10-month stays in China, combining academic study at prestigious institutions with guided reporting tours of Chinese cities, factories, and government events. While officially described as helping African media “accurately report on China,” the program strategically shapes perceptions by exposing journalists to carefully curated positive aspects of Chinese development. Nigerian journalist Solomon Elusoji, who participated in 2018, noted his initial skepticism transformed after seeing China’s infrastructure, though he maintained that African countries must “make full use” of China-Africa relations. The program shows Beijing’s systematic approach to cultivating favorable media coverage in African countries through direct engagement with journalists.
