By Halimatou Jallow
The Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in The Gambia on Wednesday, June 4th, 2025, hosted the 5th ‘China-Gambia Bantaba’ forum, for the Gambian media team that made a trip to China in May.
The occasion was also graced by heads of Gambian media and information, and communication institutions.
Held at the Ambassador’s residence at Turn-Table, the forum offered the chance for the stakeholders to strengthen the ties of friendship and cultural understanding between the two nations.
The forum also allowed the participants to reflect on what they had learned, exchange the most important observations from their travels, and officially mark the successful completion and positive results of the Bantaba Programme.
The journalists shared personal stories about their time in China, describing how the journey changed their views. They spoke about seeing firsthand how China allows different religions to exist peacefully and how deeply the country values protecting the distinct cultural traditions of its many people. Their detailed stories gave everyone present a richer, more complete picture of life in modern Chinese society.
During their week’s visit to China, the journalists followed a busy schedule traveling through Beijing and the Xinjiang region. During their travels, the group had special chances to see the country’s rich mix of social customs and cultural heritage. They also observed how religious tolerance is put into practice in everyday community settings. This direct experience was meant to build a deeper shared understanding and reinforce the bond between China and The Gambia by creating genuine connections between ordinary people.
The Deputy Director at the Department of Information Services, Mr. Ebrima Njie, who led the Gambian media delegation to China, spoke on behalf of the team at the Bantaba forum. He highlighted the remarkable experience he had and the diverse workforce experience he witnessed in Chinese media. “China is a country of great people, who have the will and determination to move the agenda of their government forward,” he attested. He affirmed the importance of lively exchanges between media professionals in helping the people of China and The Gambia truly understand each other better, thereby enhance the long-standing relationship between the two countries.
Mr Njie also recommended yearly exchanges for media professionals as well as implementation of joint projects.
The Chinese Ambassador to The Gambia, His Excellency Liu Jin, informed that the upcoming activities under the programme will include practical steps: setting up learning sessions featuring Chinese religious figures, broadening travel plans to include seeing countryside development projects, and starting exchange programmes for young people through Gambian schools. Together, these planned actions aim to encourage a more profound understanding by letting people see and do things for themselves and by working together.
“The focus will be on China’s way of life as a society, its path of growth and improvement, and building links with Gambia’s younger generation. The central goal stays the same: encouraging truthful news coverage and maintaining active cultural interaction across many different areas for years to come,” he further explained.
The Ambassador said in their quest to strengthen the continuity of the bond between these two states, and most especially giving opportunities to the young people of The Gambia, later this year, they would continue to invite friends to visit China, with the target of between 300 to 500 Gambians.
The meeting concluded with a remarkable display of different Chinese cuisines which the whole gathering devoured and enjoyed.
