KINSHASA, March 18 (Xinhua) -- The China-Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Media Forum was held on Wednesday in Kinshasa, the DRC capital.

Under the theme of "Chinese Modernization and the DRC's Development Path: Jointly Exploring New Paths for Mutual Benefit and Win-Win Cooperation," the forum attracted about 250 politicians, media representatives and business leaders from both countries.

In a video address at the opening ceremony, Fu Hua, president of Xinhua News Agency, highlighted that this year marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and African nations, as well as the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges.

He said Xinhua will take the forum as an opportunity to work with DRC media colleagues to further interpret the blueprint drawn by the leaders of both countries.

Xinhua aims to tell compelling stories of bilateral cooperation, study forward-looking and strategic issues concerning China-Africa development, and organize exchange activities such as the Global South Media and Think Tank Forum, Fu added.

These efforts will enhance the representation and voice of both countries in the multilateral governance system, and inject more vibrant spiritual strength into the steady and sustained development of China-Africa cooperation, he said.

DRC Vice Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy Daniel Mukoko Samba said that the long-standing relations between China and the DRC have been consistently developed on the basis of cooperation and friendship.

Africa-China cooperation has provided important support for the development of the African continent, he added.

Mukoko pointed out that the media plays a bridging role, helping to enhance mutual understanding between the two peoples and deepen China-DRC cooperation.

Patrick Muyaya, DRC's minister of communication and media and government spokesman, said the forum marks a new step in media cooperation between the DRC and China.

Muyaya called on both sides to deepen institutional cooperation, explore the application of new technologies such as digital transformation and artificial intelligence in news dissemination, take joint efforts to tackle the challenge of fake news and continuously push forward bilateral relations.

Bienvenu Bakumanya, general director of the Congolese Press Agency (ACP), said the forum signifies that bilateral media cooperation is entering a phase of substantive action.

He called on the media of both countries to take on the responsibility as "communication architects" to comprehensively showcase the real dividends in social, economic and technological domains brought by bilateral cooperation.

Chinese Ambassador to the DRC Zhao Bin said that current China-DRC relations are at a new historical starting point, and Chinese modernization will provide more opportunities for the DRC's development and revitalization.

Noting that the forum marks the beginning of a series of celebrations for the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges in the DRC, Zhao expressed hope that "the media of both countries will further publicize the fruitful achievements of our pragmatic cooperation, tell more vivid stories of civil friendship between the two countries, enhance mutual understanding and help boost the vigorous development of China-DRC relations."

Co-hosted by Xinhua News Agency and the ACP, the forum also featured a photo exhibition on the achievements of China-DRC cooperation. ■