A China-Kenya cultural exchange event was held in Nairobi on Tuesday, bringing together officials, scholars, students, and media from across Africa to reflect on history and promote a shared vision of peace.
The exchange event, "Echoes of Peace," was hosted by China Media Group (CMG), with a video speech delivered by Shen Haixiong, deputy head of Publicity Department of Communist Party of China Central Committee and CMG president.
Guest speakers at the event praised the resilience and unity of the Chinese people during the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, calling it a testament to national strength in the face of adversity.
They stressed that young people in both China and Kenya must continue to remember the lessons of war, safeguard historical truth, and protect hard-won peace. Many also pointed to China as key proponent for peace built on development, cooperation, and mutual benefit going forward.
Through multi-sector cooperation including infrastructure, education, and cultural exchange, China and Africa are working hand in hand toward a brighter future, speakers said.
These messages found fertile ground with young attendees, who hope to carry on the call for peace as they become the next generation of African leaders.
"Peace is important for everyone. It is a very significant and a weighty sentence, which signifies that each and every one deserves peace to be able to prosper in the nation that we are currently living in. It speaks to the sense of peace and what we should all be promoting across countries and even as individuals," said Linda, a student from the University of Nairobi.
At the event, CMG Africa gifted a selection of high-quality CMG programs to the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC). Featured screenings included the historical documentary film The Sinking of Lisbon Maru and the international edition of the war-themed documentary Song of the Great Wall: The Backbone.
Three short documentaries produced by CGTN -- Forgotten Warriors: African Soldiers in WWII, Kenyan Veterans and the Post-war Anti-Colonial Movement, and Forgotten Senegalese Soldiers and France's Colonial Reckoning -- were also screened during the event.
Guests remarked that these productions help to restore historical truth and highlight the significant role African soldiers played in the global fight against fascism. Media outlets from over 20 African nations, including KBC, Ethiopian News Agency, Rwanda's Africa-China Review, 5FM Radio Zambia, and Independent Media South Africa, provided extensive coverage across platforms, reaching an estimated audience of nearly 600 million people across the continent.
Calls for peace take center stage at China-Kenya exchange event in Nairobi
A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.
Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.
In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.
"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.
Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.
In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.
"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.
By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.
After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.
"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.
Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.
As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.
Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media
