Chinese President Xi Jinping
By Fatou Sillah
In a significant step to further solidify diplomatic and cultural ties, China and Africa have designated 2026 as the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges. The initiative, announced during the 2024 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), seeks to strengthen mutual understanding, expand cross-cultural dialogue, and foster enduring relationships between the two regions’ populations.
“The foundation and lifeline of China-Africa relations lie with the people. Therefore, the development of our relations should be more people-oriented,” Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized, underscoring the central role of public engagement in shaping the future of China-Africa cooperation.
The year-long initiative, which will also mark the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and African countries, is poised to feature a wide array of exchange programs and joint activities spanning education, culture, tourism, sports, science and technology, public health, and green development.
A concept paper outlining the effort described people-to-people ties as the “bedrock” of China-Africa relations, noting that such exchanges are critical to sustaining the vitality of the partnership across generations. The initiative will build on what Beijing describes as its Africa policy principles of “sincerity, real results, amity, and good faith.”
Throughout 2026, both sides are expected to host events under the theme Consolidate All-Weather Friendship, Pursue Shared Dream of Modernization. The activities will include the China-Africa Youth Festival, China-Africa Youth Culture Forum, China-Africa Future Leaders’ Dialogue, and the China-Africa Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition. These initiatives aim to cultivate deeper ties among young leaders and innovators from both regions.
Cultural and tourism exchanges will also play a prominent role, with planned events such as the China-Africa Cultural and Tourism Exchange Conference, the China-Africa Wushu Conference, and the China-Africa Audio-Visual Program Screening. The initiative will encourage joint exhibitions, literary exchanges, and social media collaborations to broaden the reach and resonance of the partnership among the general public.
In addition to cultural programs, the two sides will collaborate on a series of social development projects designed to deliver tangible benefits to local communities. These include the “100 Medical Teams in 1,000 Villages” program, poverty reduction seminars, and initiatives supporting the welfare of people with disabilities. Expanded sister-city partnerships are also expected to foster direct municipal-level cooperation.
Further, the year will feature academic and policy exchanges through think tank forums and media collaborations. Planned events such as the Seminar on Chinese Modernization and African Development and the China-Africa Friendship Organization Leaders Meeting will offer platforms for sharing governance and development strategies.
Targeted programs to empower women and youth—particularly in fields such as innovation, entrepreneurship, vocational training, and emerging technologies like artificial intelligence—will also form a key part of the agenda. Initiatives such as the Capability Enhancement Program for African Female Leaders and the African Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Program aim to translate human capital into drivers of modernization.
The year will officially launch with an opening ceremony at the beginning of 2026, culminating in a closing event that will showcase key achievements, recognize exemplary projects, and feature cultural performances. Both Chinese and African media will be invited to provide extensive coverage, and the organizers plan to leverage social media and digital platforms to maximize public engagement and visibility.
The year of exchanges, according to the concept paper, is expected to not only reaffirm the China-Africa partnership but also to build “an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era.”