Xinhua sets up gallery to boost ties

Staff Writer | Thursday December 9, 2010 00:00

 

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Chinese Ambassador to Botswana, Liu Huanxing, said it is meaningful for Chinese media to display China in Africa and the relationship between China and Botswana.

Xinhua Gallery will serve as a fresh window through which Batswana can have an idea of how the Chinese look at Botswana and Africa.  It also serves to promote their understanding of development and the relationship between the two countries.

Chief correspondent of Xinhua Botswana Bureau, Guo Jun, said the gallery will be a permanent photo display programme in Botswana, whose theme changes every two months, with the current theme being,  'African Smile in Shanghai EXPO'.

He added that since not every Motswana has got the chance to experience the Shanghai Exposition and Botswana's pavilion at the event, the Xinhua Gallery is opportune for showing them the African pavilions and performance in the 2010 Shanghai Expo in the form of vivid pictures.

'The pavilion has showcased the modernisation process of Botswana, as well as its charm as a tourism destination, a commercial hub and a livable place.  It consists of three exhibition areas that demonstrate the charm of this country from the following perspectives: nature and resources, history and heritage, as well as city and life,' Jun said.

The World Expo 2010 Shanghai, which started on May 1 and ended on October 31, has displayed the splendour of the world as well as the Expo history since 1851.  According to statistics, over 70 million visitors have set foot in this wonderful pageant.  The National Pavilion Day of the Botswana Pavilion is July 21, 2010.  With an area of over 26 000 square metres, the African Union Pavilion is the largest one of the 11 AU pavilions at the Shanghai Expo.  It comprises individual pavilions of 42 African countries.

After the opening ceremony, the Xinhua Gallery moved to the Confucius Institute in University of Botswana (UB) as part of the permanent cultural exchange programme.