Against the backdrop of a debilitating trade war with the United States and geopolitical competition for global influence and investments, China is on a charm offensive targeting African, Asian and European countries to fight in its corner.
Away from the much publicised top level diplomatic engagements with leaders of different regions, a subtle quest for the mind and soul of professionals, either in groups or as individuals is underway at a scale that in the case of Kenya, is comparable to the mid-1960s students airlifts to the US. At a recent seminar sponsored by Chinese Ministry of Commerce for Kenyan media practitioners and regulators, journalists under the tutelage of Chinese academics, were taken through interpretations of Chinese society, culture, economy and politics.
