AIP Publishers Represent South Africa at a Seminar on Friendship-City Cultural Exchanges for Indian Ocean Countries in China
JOHANNESBURG, June 12, 2026 – The Association of Independent Publishers (AIP) is pleased to announce that its members, Eric Phiri (AIP Board member and Publisher of Stokvel TALK) and Austin Moyo (Publisher of Khanyisa News and Jozi Advertiser), are currently attending the Seminar on Friendship-City Cultural Exchanges for Indian Ocean Countries, hosted in Kunming City and later Changsha City, in the People’s Republic of China from 05 to 25 June 2026. Their participation was made possible by the Chinese Embassy in South Africa and the Chinese Department of Commerce.
The seminar has brought together delegates from several African and Indian Ocean nations, namely South Africa, Kenya, the Comoros, and the Maldives, alongside representatives from China. The seminar has featured top-drawer professors from China to conduct the lectures, and timely visits to strategic locations are part of the program. Mr. Phiri and Mr. Moyo have made history by being the first small commercial publishers to participate in such a program on behalf of South Africa, leveraging this prestigious platform to advance AIP’s strategic international engagement objectives.
During the seminar, the two publishers are actively working to strengthen existing ties with the Chinese Department of Commerce through Mr. Pan and his senior Mr. Lee, as well as the Embassy in South Africa, to facilitate deeper people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and to explore new avenues for collaboration between AIP and leading Chinese institutions across the publishing, media, education, and cultural sectors. This will be done through the soon-to-be-launched China-South Africa Local Media Club in August.
“The seminar offers an invaluable opportunity to build bridges, share knowledge, and forge lasting partnerships with the host country,” said Austin Moyo during a telephone interview. “Our participation underscores AIP’s commitment to positioning South Africa as a key partner in regional and overseas cultural dialogue and the possible formation of sister cities between China and South Africa through the AIP and the Chinese Embassy in South Africa. While here in China, we are also exploring ways to make printing easier for all print publishers,” concluded Mr. Moyo, a veteran in this industry since 1995.
“I became very excited when I heard that we would be coming here, and in my mind I knew that the knowledge we would gain would be for the benefit of the local media industry in South Africa,” said Eric Phiri, who is also the AIP Chairperson in Gauteng and a veteran in the industry since 2005. “While many think that print is dying, many of our people still cannot afford data to go online, and the printed copy fills that gap to make sure that all South Africans, especially those in the townships and semi-rural areas, stay informed,” concluded Mr. Phiri.
Participation in this seminar is expected to open doors for future joint ventures, including co-publishing projects, media partnerships, cultural programs, and educational initiatives. These collaborations aim to further enhance bilateral relations between South Africa and China while substantially expanding AIP’s international footprint.
AIP remains dedicated to fostering cross-border understanding and creating sustainable networks that benefit the publishing industry and the broader creative economy.
About AIP
The Association of Independent Publishers (AIP) is a South African national organization representing grassroots, independent print and online community media. Founded in 2005, it features over 200 member publications nationwide and focuses on advancing media diversity, digital sustainability, and editorial advocacy in all 11 official languages.
