Representatives from more than 10 leading media outlets in China and Rwanda gathered in Kigali to discuss intensified cooperation on Thursday.

The forum, themed on intensifying media exchanges and cooperation and sharing China-Africa development, is hosted by the State Council Information Office of China and organized by Xinhua News Agency.

Addressing the forum, Guo Weimin, vice-minister of the information office, said the media is an important carrier for information dissemination and exchanges. The media also helps to enhance understanding and friendship in modern society. It will play a key role in strengthening the traditional friendship and realizing cooperative development between the two countries.

For the first time, the media from China and Rwanda gathered together to set up a platform for exchanges and communications, he said.

"By means of active dialogue, both sides will reach more agreements, and through concrete projects the two countries will promote cooperation," he said.

Guo said he hoped media will play a key role in implementing any consensus reached by the leaders of the countries through joint efforts and promoting intensified understanding, mutual trust and friendship.

During the forum, heads of the media from China and Rwanda expressed their wishes for accelerated development in the face of new media and technology, for intensified cooperation and for a desire to tell good stories of China-Rwanda cooperation.

In her speech at the forum, Claudine DeLucco Uwanyiligira, deputy director-general of Rwanda Broadcasting Agency, said that her agency has cooperation with Chinese media and gained support in capacity building from the Chinese media and hoped to continue to strengthen the sound cooperation with Chinese media.

Earlier in the morning, Guo visited Rwanda Broadcasting Agency and The New Times, the largest English-language newspaper in the country.

The forum is part of a series of three-day events on China-Rwanda cultural exchanges that include a photo exhibition, a donation ceremony and a film show.