Chinese Embassy Explores Media Development Partnership in South Sudan

(JUBA) – The Chinese Embassy in Juba has opened talks with the Media Mentors Network on ways to strengthen media collaboration and development in South Sudan.

The engagement held on 23 September 2025 brought together embassy officials and leaders of the network, including Chairperson Marina Modi and Coordinator Dhieu William.

The meeting focused on building capacity for South Sudan’s media sector, with particular attention on training, skills development and knowledge exchange.

The Chinese Embassy said it is ready to support initiatives that would help improve the quality of journalism and media operations in the country.

During the discussions, Ms Modi explained that the Media Mentors Network is currently carrying out a six month Media and Information Literacy project, with support from UNESCO South Sudan.

She noted that the programme is designed to empower young people with the knowledge to use media in a constructive way, supporting both national development and responsible communication.

Mr William, who coordinates the network, shared lessons from his professional experience in China. He stressed that South Sudan could benefit from adopting some of the approaches used in China to engage youth and build stronger media institutions.

His presentation focused on the value of international exchange in shaping a media environment that is better able to meet global standards.

In response, Chinese officials expressed interest in supporting the network’s work through exchange visits and training opportunities.

This could involve taking South Sudanese media practitioners to China to learn from the country’s media industry, as well as hosting Chinese experts in Juba to provide direct mentorship and skills transfer.

The Chinese Embassy said the collaboration is part of a broader effort to promote mutual understanding and capacity building through cultural and professional exchange.

For South Sudan, where the media sector is still developing, the Media Mentors Network said such partnerships are expected to boost professionalism, open business opportunities and improve regional and global engagement.

For business and investment circles, a stronger media sector means improved communication, better information flow and more reliable platforms for economic dialogue, according to MMN.

Areas of Collaboration