Tian Xuejun (left), Hua Jianmin (second from left), Collins Chabane (third from left) and Zhou Mingwei attend the unveiling ceremony of ChinAfrica Media and Publishing Ltd. on March 30, 2012. [Photo by Li Yafang]

Beijing Review, a subsidiary of China International Publishing Group (CIPG), on Friday unveiled its new publishing base, ChinAfrica Media and Publishing Ltd., in Pretoria, the administrative capital city of South Africa.

The unveiling ceremony was attended by visiting Vice Chairman of the NPC Standing Committee Hua Jianmin, First Minister Collins Chabane for the Presidency of South Africa, Chinese Ambassador Tian Xuejun to South Africa, and President Zhou Mingwei of CIPG.

Zhou said that, in addition to featuring current events in Africa, the new company will be introducing African readers to Chinese culture, social commentaries, economic development and its various challenges through the monthly ChinAfrica magazine and other publications.

"At the same time, we could listen directly to the African people about their feelings on the development of relationships between China, South Africa and the rest of the African continent," Zhou said.

ChinAfrica, published by Beijing Review and CIPG since 1988, is currently available in print in English and French in both China and Africa. Both editions as well as the Chinese edition are also available online. It covers a wide range of topics and targets audiences in governments, business and academia, as well as casual readers.

At the ceremony, Hua gave his congratulations to the establishment of the new company. He said: "The establishment of ChinAfrica Media and Publishing Ltd. will boost bilateral exchanges and cooperation in cultural and media fields, making friendship between our peoples deeper, and also making even greater contribution to the development of China-South Africa and China-Africa as a whole."

He added that promoting mutual development has been an important cornerstone of China’s foreign policy and the basis of continued friendship between China and Africa.

Chabane said he was happy to be in attendance in this ceremony and the rapid growing relationship between China and Africa, especially the friendly cooperation in Cooperation Mechanism of BRICS, represents the importance of China-Africa relations. The establishment of ChinAfrica Media and Publishing Ltd. will serve as a new boost to the bilateral relationship, further contributing to the development between China, South Africa and the rest of Africa.

At the ceremony, CIPG made donations of books published by its subsidiaries publishing houses both in Chinese and English to Rhodes University of South Africa.