Xinhua installs high-definition screen at new AU offices

ADDIS ABABA, Jan. 26 – China’s Xinhua News Agency on Thursday inaugurated a high-definition outdoor screen on the premises of the new African Union Conference Center and Office Complex (AUCC) in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa. The new AUCC, which is fully sponsored by the Chinese government, has been scheduled to be inaugurated on Jan. 28 in the presence of AU heads of state and government, who will be gathered here for the 18th summit.

The huge screen has been set up by Xinhua at the AUCC with the support from China’s Hisense Group and will have multi-purposes like video shows, media announcements and picture displays. Inaugurating the screen were Wang Chaowen, director general of Xinhua’s Africa Regional Bureau, AU Representatives, as well as officials and representatives from the China State Construction Engineering, a contracting company for the construction of the AUCC.

As China’s state news agency, Xinhua has always attached great importance to the reports of the African Union, Ethiopia and other African countries, said Wang at the inaugural ceremony of the screen. “In recent years, Xinhua has adjusted its development strategy to report in text, pictures, television, internet, short messages and various other new forms of media, instead of only text and photos,” he said.

The setting up of the high-definition outdoor screen on the premises of the new AU building, Wang said, is a new link to promote China-Africa cooperation and another proof of Xinhua’s emphasis on the African Union and Ethiopia. “I believe the large screen will play an important role to further promote China-Africa friendship,” he added. Speaking on the occasion, Habiba Mejri Cheikh, director for the AUC Information and Communication, said the screen demonstrates the partnership the AU has forged with China.

“I am very pleased to receive this new gift. This is for us, a sign of partnership that now becomes more and more certain. On behalf of the AUC and on behalf of its Chairperson, Jean Ping, all the Commission, I thank you very much,” said Habiba. The director noted that the AUC would strengthen partnership for benefit of the media to disseminate information on the activities the AUC carries out solely and in partnership with its partners like China.

“I assure you to work hand in hand to strengthen our partnership for the benefit of the media who are our partners to disseminate the message and the activities the AU is doing by its own and with the assistance and in partnership with partners like China which is big, big partnership; it is more than that and I think, we are in the domain of brothers and sisters now; so thank you very much, thank you for being here and we will make good use of this tool thank you very much,” she said. (Xinhua)