At the press conference held on the eve of the Fourth Session of the 12th Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee (CPPCC), where its spokesperson Wang Guoqing briefed journalists and fielded questions about hot issues such as China's health care reform, smog control and poverty alleviation, a Nigerian reporter was the cynosure of all eyes.

Ikenna Emewu, editor of The Sun, the largest circulated daily in Nigeria, cut an arresting figure at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on March 2. His questions indicated his familiarity with Chinese issues.

"I am extremely interested in China," Emewu told ChinAfrica. "Though I work in Nigeria, I read news about China every day, and I watch news on China Central TV every day. In Nigeria, Chinese stories always draw readers' attention."

Emewu came to China for an African journalist training program organized by the China Public Diplomacy Association. More than 20 journalists from mainstream media in African countries are invited to China for a 10-month professional training.

Lu Fengding, Vice President of China Public Diplomacy Association, said the program aims to provide African media and journalists with better access to China-related news, as per the commitment made at the Fifth Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Ministerial Conference in 2012 to promote China-Africa practical cooperation. The African journalists' program in China was launched in February 2014. This year's program started on March 1.

"As a reporter, curiosity is very important, and I am very curious about China," Emewu said, adding that with China's rapid economic development and its ties with Africa growing, Nigerians have more opportunities to know China.

"Our readers expect to learn more about China from us. The two sessions (annual sessions of the National Committee of the CPPCC, China's top political advisory body, and the National People's Congress, China's top legislature) are the best platform to get authoritative information on China and I will make the best of this chance," he said.

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