By Anthony Nwachukwu
Africans and the Chinese are set for a more fulfilling year as China and Africa plan to co-host nearly 600 cultural and people-to-people exchange activities in 2026 towards enhancing exchanges and mutual learning, as well as promoting understanding and connection between the peoples.
This was disclosed to newsmen by Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, Mao Ning, during the opening ceremony of the 2026 China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges at the African Union headquarters.
Mao explained that organising the 2026 China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges is an important consensus among leaders from both sides at the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Beijing Summit in 2024.
According to her, Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the opening ceremony, urging both sides to seize the year as an opportunity to carry forward traditional friendship, strengthen mutual learning among civilisations, expand people-to-people exchanges, especially among the youth, deepen exchanges of experience in governance, and jointly advance modernisation.
Speaking at the event, Chinese Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, highlighted the achievements of the China-Africa cultural and people-to-people exchanges. He further joined African guests in unveiling the logo for the programme.
