The 2026 China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges held at the African Union (AU) headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia was launched on Thursday.
The initiative is aimed at deepening cultural dialogue and cooperation between China and Africa.
China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi read a congratulatory message from President Xi Jinping during the opening ceremony.
The message highlighted the importance of mutual learning among civilizations as a foundation for China-Africa modernization and long-term partnership.
Amb. Wang said people-to-people exchanges form the strongest pillar of China-Africa friendship, especially as the Global South continues to rise amid global uncertainty.
The ceremony was addressed by senior African leaders, including AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Congolese Foreign Minister Jean-Claude Gakosso, and Ethiopian President Taye Atske Selassie, alongside representatives from the AU, United Nations agencies, and diplomatic corps.
The leaders welcomed the initiative, expressing confidence that it will open a new chapter in Africa-China relations through expanded cooperation in culture, education, tourism, youth exchanges and the arts.
China’s official state-run news agency, Xinhua News Agency said African leaders reaffirmed commitment to strengthening ties under the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and the Belt and Road Initiative, emphasizing solidarity, mutual benefit and shared development.
China has developed strong and lasting relations with Africa based on political cooperation, economic partnership and people-to-people ties.
Through platforms such as the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and initiatives like the Belt and Road, China has become a key partner in Africa’s development. The cooperation framework spans infrastructure, trade, agriculture, health, education and technology.
The two parties emphasize mutual respect, non-interference and shared benefits, viewing the relationship as an important pillar of South-South cooperation and collective development.
Global politics is increasingly shaped by the actions and rivalries of major powers, whose economic, military, and technological influence ripple across continents.
Traditional Western powers face growing competition from rising nations such as China, India, and others, creating a more multipolar world.
Strategic alliances are shifting, and global institutions are being tested as these powers assert their interests in trade, security, and diplomacy.
