By Nkechi Eze
China and Africa are set to jointly host nearly 600 cultural and people-to-people exchange activities in 2026, in a major push to strengthen mutual understanding, deepen civilizational learning and bring the peoples of both sides closer together.
This was disclosed on Friday by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning during a regular press conference, where she provided details on the opening ceremony of the 2026 China–Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges, held on Thursday at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa.
According to Mao, the large-scale programme of activities will span culture, education, youth engagement and governance exchanges, and is designed to “enhance exchanges and mutual learning between the two civilizations, and promote mutual understanding and connection between the peoples of China and Africa.”
She explained that the decision to organise the 2026 China–Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges was a key consensus reached by leaders of both sides at the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Beijing Summit in 2024. “Organizing the 2026 China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges is an important consensus reached by leaders from both sides at the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Beijing Summit in 2024,” Mao said.
The spokesperson revealed that Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the opening ceremony, in which he called on China and Africa to seize the opportunity presented by the exchange year to further strengthen their long-standing friendship. President Xi urged both sides to “carry forward traditional friendship, strengthen mutual learning among civilizations, expand people-to-people exchanges, especially among the youth, deepen exchanges of experience in governance, and jointly advance modernization.”
Mao also noted that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi attended the opening ceremony, where he highlighted the achievements recorded so far in China–Africa cultural and people-to-people cooperation. During the event, Wang Yi and African guests jointly unveiled the official logo for the 2026 China–Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges, symbolising a shared commitment to closer societal and cultural ties.
She stressed that the planned activities in 2026 would not only celebrate the diversity and richness of Chinese and African cultures, but also serve as a platform for sustained engagement between citizens, institutions and young people on both sides. “These exchanges are expected to inject fresh vitality into China–Africa relations and lay a stronger social foundation for long-term cooperation and shared development,” Mao added.
The launch of the 2026 China–Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges marks another milestone in the evolving China–Africa partnership, reflecting a growing emphasis on people-centred cooperation alongside political, economic and strategic collaboration.
