The fourth China-Africa media cooperation forum started Monday and will run until Wednesday. Ahead of the forum, a group of African journalists came to Beijing for a seminar organized by China's Ministry of Commerce. Wei Lynn Tang checks in with a few of them, to find out about their perception of China.  

As part of a framework to strengthen China-Africa media cooperation, groups of African journalists are in Beijing for a training program organized by the Chinese government.

For most of them, this is their very first time stepping foot into China.

So how different is it?

ZIPPORAH WANGARI MUTHUI TV PRODUCER & DIRECTOR, KENYA BROADCASTING CORP. "That China is a closed state, that there is limited freedom of expression especially for journalists, that they only have to report a certain way about the government of the day, that journalists can only report positive image of China. But when you come here I find your news reports about everything, I saw stories on migrants, on so many other issues and not just the focus on what the government is doing."

Some African state media said that their countries' viewpoint on China has been on an upward trend, and believe there is much to learn from one another.

DENNIS KWADWO PEPRAH CHIEF REPORTER, GHANA NEWS AGENCY "If you come to Africa, we are far behind in the areas of technology advancements. The Chinese is fast growing in terms of IT, technology so I think it's an area Africans need to tap into so that we can advance in developments."

What's the way forward for China and Africa when it comes to strengthening media cooperation?

SYLIVANUS KAREMERA MUSONERA CHIEF NEWS EDITOR, RWANDA BROADCASTING AGENCY "We need to be partners, not someone who come and dictate us, how we can do things. To make sure whatever we achieve, we are achieving together. So we need to have this exchange programs for example reporters from Rwanda come to China, there's this stereotype that those who think Africa is one country. Africa is 54 countries with different cultures."

WEI LYNN TANG BEIJING "Much has been reported about China's investments and aid in Africa in recent years. And naturally, this has garnered public interest. Amid a fast-changing international landscape, the African journalists we just heard from believe that the role of media today is more important than ever to help bridge a better understanding between China and their home countries, as well as to the rest of the world. WLT, CGTN, Beijing."