China’s Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. Cong Song, has urged Ghana and China to deepen their relationship through stronger people-to-people connections, arguing that the future of bilateral cooperation must go beyond trade, investment and infrastructure projects.
He said sustainable relations between the two countries would depend largely on expanding exchanges in education, culture, media, research and professional development.
The ambassador made the call during an engagement with journalists participating in the 2026 Ghana–China Media Fellowship organised by the Africa-China Centre for Policy and Advisory (ACCPA) in Accra.
According to Ambassador Cong, closer interaction among citizens of both countries would help build greater trust, improve mutual understanding and create a stronger foundation for long-term cooperation.
He explained that Ghana–China relations should not only be measured by economic agreements but also by the growing links among students, academics, journalists, young professionals and cultural institutions.
The envoy noted that differences in historical experiences, cultural backgrounds and development paths should be seen as opportunities for collaboration rather than barriers between the two nations.
“No civilisation is superior to another,” he said, stressing the need for countries to engage each other through dialogue, respect and shared learning.
Ambassador Cong highlighted the growing number of Ghanaian students pursuing education and professional training opportunities in China, as well as the expansion of Chinese language and cultural programmes in Ghanaian institutions.
He said these initiatives, alongside exchanges involving researchers, artists and media professionals, were helping to broaden the scope of Ghana–China cooperation beyond government-to-government and business relations.
He identified the 2026 China–Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges as a platform to promote deeper collaboration in areas such as education, tourism, culture, youth development and media.
However, the ambassador stressed that meaningful exchange must be mutual, calling for greater opportunities for Ghanaian and African cultures, histories and perspectives to be shared in China.
He acknowledged challenges including language differences, limited public understanding and stereotypes about both countries, noting that these issues could only be addressed through increased interaction and accurate information sharing.
Ambassador Cong also emphasised the role of the media in shaping public understanding of Ghana–China relations, urging journalists to provide balanced and independent reporting that highlights both opportunities and challenges.
He said the strength of the partnership between Ghana and China would ultimately depend not only on diplomatic agreements and economic figures but also on the ability of citizens of both countries to connect, appreciate each other’s cultures and build lasting relationships.
