Expert: Nation must present all of its sides

China should teach African students about its national conditions and introduce "local knowledge" and "local solutions", said Hu Zhengrong, vice-president of Communication University of China.

Hu said the school's international communications program offers courses and field trips designed to avoid projecting only the flashy side of developing China.

"If all the classroom teaching and media organization visits are located in metropolises such as Beijing and Shanghai, they may misunderstand China and take it as 'a super-rich power'. But the fact is China is also faced with growing pains," Hu said.