The 2026 China–Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges was officially launched on Thursday at the African Union (AU) headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with leaders and diplomats from both sides calling for deeper dialogue and stronger bonds between the two civilizations.
The launch ceremony brought together more than 200 participants, including senior officials of the AU Commission and its institutions, African diplomats accredited to the AU, representatives of United Nations agencies, and government officials from Ethiopia and other sectors.
China’s Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, read out a congratulatory message from Chinese President Xi Jinping and delivered a keynote address at the event. Other speakers included Ethiopian President Taye Atske Selassie, AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, and Jean-Claude Gakosso, Foreign Minister of the Republic of the Congo and African co-chair of the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).
Wang described the launch of the Year of People-to-People Exchanges as a major initiative jointly agreed upon by President Xi and African leaders. He said President Xi’s message underscored the importance of mutual learning among civilizations as a driving force for China–Africa modernization and outlined key principles guiding future cultural and people-to-people cooperation.
According to Wang, the message reflects deep reflections on human civilization and provides strategic guidance for building an all-weather China–Africa community with a shared future in the new era.
He noted that China and Africa share a long history of friendship, adding that people-to-people exchanges have expanded rapidly in recent years under the direction of leaders on both sides, producing tangible and lasting outcomes. Such exchanges, he said, form the strongest foundation of bilateral ties and remain a vital engine of cooperation.
Wang also addressed the broader global context, observing that the world is undergoing profound changes and that the Global South, represented by China and Africa, is rising steadily. At the same time, he warned that instability persists, with power politics and unilateral actions undermining international law and harming the interests of developing countries.
In response to these challenges, he called on China and Africa to strengthen solidarity, uphold fairness and justice, prioritize development, put people at the center of cooperation, and promote openness, inclusiveness, and cultural exchange.
African leaders welcomed the launch of the China–Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges, describing it as a practical step toward implementing initiatives proposed by President Xi. They said the congratulatory message sent a strong signal of China’s commitment to deepening ties with Africa and expressed confidence that the initiative would usher in a new phase of Africa–China relations.
They noted that the initiative is expected to expand cooperation in areas such as culture, education, tourism, arts, and youth exchanges, while strengthening mutual understanding and friendship between the peoples of both sides.
African representatives also highlighted the close bonds between Africans and Chinese, describing the relationship as mutually beneficial and rooted in shared values. They praised China’s consistent support for Africa’s development, as well as the long-standing tradition of Chinese foreign ministers choosing Africa as the destination of their first overseas visit each year.
Since the establishment of FOCAC, African leaders said, cooperation with China has delivered significant gains in trade, infrastructure connectivity, agriculture, education, telecommunications, and other sectors, contributing to the implementation of the African Union’s development agenda.
Looking ahead, the African side expressed readiness to further deepen cooperation with China under the FOCAC framework and the Belt and Road Initiative, with the aim of achieving shared development. In the face of growing global uncertainty, they also voiced support for China’s Global Governance Initiative and called for joint efforts to oppose hegemonism, defend the international order, and promote world peace.
