Somali Media Professionals Complete 21-Day Training Programme in China

JINHUA (SONNA) — Twenty-seven media professionals from the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism of the Federal Government of Somalia have completed a 21-day media training programme in Jinhua, Zhejiang Province, China.

The participants included directors, managers of state media institutions and other ministry officials. The programme was funded by the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China and hosted by Zhejiang Normal University to strengthen professional capacity and support the modernisation of Somalia’s state media.

The training combined lectures, study visits and professional exchanges, covering digital media strategies, artificial intelligence, media management and countering disinformation. Participants also explored China’s experience in media development and the application of emerging technologies to improve media production, cultural programming and audience engagement.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, Mr. Zhu Yifeng, Vice President of Zhejiang Normal University, highlighted the importance of knowledge exchange in strengthening friendship and advancing media cooperation between Somalia and China.

Representing the Somali delegation, Mr. Abdishakur Ali Ahmed, Director of Strategic Communication at the Ministry, expressed appreciation to the Government of China, the Ministry of Commerce, Zhejiang Normal University and the programme organisers for their support.

He said the knowledge and practical experience gained would help strengthen staff expertise, improve content quality and support the modernisation of Somalia’s state media institutions.

The programme also provided a platform for professional networking and the exchange of perspectives on the evolving role of media institutions in the digital age.

The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to professional development and international cooperation to strengthen Somalia’s media sector, while expressing appreciation to the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Somalia for its continued support in advancing bilateral cooperation and people-to-people exchanges.