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By Ephraims Sheyin

Two leading news agencies – China’s Xinhua and Nigeria’s News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) – have agreed to work toward promoting a good image for the African continent.

The duo agreed to pursue the goal when Mr Li Weifei, Xinhua’s Regional Bureau Chief for Africa, paid a courtesy visit to NAN’s Managing Director, Ali M. Ali, on Friday in Abuja.

They regretted the negative publicity Africa had suffered over the years, and emphasised the need to change the narrative.

Weifei particularly regretted the bad image the western world painted of Africa, and promised to work with NAN to ensure that positive truths about the continent were told.

“We must report Africa more positively. The west paints a picture of famine, disasters and war.

“They call Africa a dark continent and report Africa as dark. We want positive information.

“To fit the western narrative, a lot of fake news is strewn around Africa. We must work together to give Africa the image it deserves,” he said.

In his response, Ali described Xinhua as a global brand and a major leader in agency journalism.

“Xinhua is an influential media organisation; we look forward to working together to set the right agenda for Africa,” he said.

He emphasised the need to report Africa more positively to attract investors to the continent.

“There are many positive things happening in Africa. We must play up such positives to the world,” he added.

Xinhua officials who accompanied Weifei included Qiao Meng, the Marketing Manager, and Yang Zhe, the agency’s Bureau Chief in Nigeria.(NAN) (nannews.com.ng)

Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

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Ismail Abdulaziz

Deputy Editor in Chief,
Multimedia, Solutions Journalism & Website.

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