Mainland Chinese authorities have upsized their soft-power initiatives, closing out 2023 with drama, "Welcome to Milele", a celebration of China’s 60-year involvement in providing medical aid to Africa.

The production, involving 178 crew members on location in Africa, is being presented as the largest-scale overseas filming project in Chinese television history, Chinese Communist Party newspaper, Global Times, says. 

The 35-episode series is the story of Dr Ma Jia, who joins a team headed for Sanna in Africa and finds himself grappling with a vastly different environment and profound cultural differences.  

The series is available across platforms including on YouTube with English subtitles, was filmed in six locations across China and Tanzania. 20 episodes are available for free on Youku online, with the balance behind a pay wall.  A version in Swahili is being planned to distribute on African platforms. 

Inspired by true stories, the drama showcases “China’s humanitarian spirit on the world stage” and “highlights the selfless dedication of Chinese medical teams serving in Africa”. 

"Welcome to Milele" is timed to coincide with the 10th anniversary of the China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). 

The cast includes Zambian actor Kawawa Kadichi as an African child who came to China to study and then returned to his home country.