China and Zimbabwe are set to further cooperation in broadcasting as China Central Television, CCTV, is eager to air Zimbabwean television programs in China, ZBC News reported on Tuesday.

China and Zimbabwe have strengthened cooperation in areas of broadcasting following talks between the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Holdings (ZBH) chief executive officer Henry Muradzikwa and his Chinese counterpart CCTV vice president Zhang Changming in Beijing on Tuesday.

Zhang said CCTV is eager to air Zimbabwean television programs in China in order to help counter the monopoly that Western countries have over reporting on Zimbabwean and African issues.

He said China is willing to offer exchange programs and to host broadcasting personnel from Zimbabwe in order to assist in the improvement of broadcasting standards for Zimbabwe.

He further extended his gesture of appreciation to the Zimbabwean government for airing Chinese programs on ZBC as this has helped the Chinese people in Zimbabwe to keep abreast with matters at home.

Later at a dinner hosted for the visiting Zimbabwean delegation by the CCTV president Zhao Huayong, Zhao offered training facilities for ZBH staff in technical, production and journalism areas.

Zhao said one factor that has united Zimbabwe and China over the years is the similarities in historical development. In his response, Muradzikwa said Zimbabwe has a lot to learn from China especially under the Look East policy.

Muradzikwa indicated to his host that Zimbabwe is in the process of reconstructing its economy as well as the broadcasting facilities but this process has been negatively affected by continued denigration from Western countries through sanctions and negative publicity.

He said Zimbabwe is determined to soldier on by countering the negative publicity hence plans are at an advanced stage to open a new radio station that will tell the story of Zimbabwe to the world in a true manner.

He also indicated that his country is keen to draw lessons from the Chinese experience on how to improve broadcasting in order to better serve the people.

Source: Xinhua