BEIJING, June 25 (Xinhua) -- Experts and scholars from China and Africa have urged more efforts to push forward people-to-people and intellectual exchanges between the two sides at a seminar held here.

Experts and scholars from Africa and China gathered in Beijing for an exchange program, which is aimed at strengthening joint research and people-to-people exchanges and enhancing mutual understanding and learning between the two sides.

Li Xinfeng, executive vice president of the China-Africa Institute, said Monday at the seminar that it is important for China and Africa to renew and elevate bilateral cooperation, especially in the field of people-to-people exchanges.

Monica Zodwa Cheru, a journalist and media consultant from Zimbabwe, said that in terms of media coverage and exchanges by scholars, people need to think about reaching out to the "ordinary people" by telling "popular stories" and speaking in their native languages.

On exchanges of youths, Celia Muyinga, a lecturer at the Open University of Tanzania and one of the directors of the China Alumni Association of Tanzania (CAAT), said that with support of the Tanzanian government, the CAAT now allows "role models" who once studied in China to inspire young people and let them see the real image of China.

Jairos Kangira, dean of humanities and social sciences of the University of Namibia, noted that more and more of their students are studying China as they see great opportunities in the country.

"The relations between Africa and China must go forward, because Africa has much to learn from China in terms of infrastructure, education and development," he said, adding that exchanges would facilitate mutual understanding and learning.

The African experts and scholars were invited to China to attend the exchange program from June 23 to July 7. They will visit universities, think tanks and enterprises in Beijing, and discuss with local officials in Shanxi Province poverty alleviation and development in rural areas.