I.Background

China and Africa enjoy a long-standing  friendship that has been growing stronger over time. The amicable ties  between the two peoples serve as the bedrock for the growth of  China-Africa relations, and people-to-people exchanges continuously fuel  the vitality of this enduring friendship across generations. President  Xi Jinping pointed out, “The foundation and lifeline of China-Africa  relations lie with the people. Therefore, the development of our  relations should be more people-oriented.” At the 2024 Beijing Summit of  the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (hereinafter referred to as  FOCAC), President Xi announced that the two sides agreed to designate  2026 as the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges (hereinafter  referred to as the Year).

To implement the important  consensus reached by Chinese and African leaders and the outcomes of the  FOCAC Beijing Summit, the two sides will host a series of  people-to-people exchange activities under the theme of Consolidate  All-Weather Friendship, Pursue Shared Dream of Modernization, as we  celebrate in 2026 the 70th anniversary of the start of diplomatic  relations between China and African countries. These activities aim to  promote exchanges and mutual learning among the Chinese and African  civilizations and strengthen people-to-people bonds, amity and  cooperation, thus solidifying the public support for China-Africa  friendship. In this process, China will act upon the principles of  sincerity, real results, amity, and good faith guiding its Africa  policy, and tap the potential for further cooperation in various fields,  so as to reinvigorate the joint endeavors of China and Africa to  advance modernization, and make contributions to building the  all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era  and pursuing the shared dream of modernization.

II.Tentative Program

At  the beginning of 2026, the China-Africa Year of People-to-People  Exchanges will commence with a launching ceremony unveiling key  activities. Friends from across China and Africa are welcome to attend.

Throughout  the year, guided by the principles of people-centered engagement,  cross-cultural synergy and shared benefits, China and Africa will carry  out wide-ranging activities that involve diverse communities and  sectors, focusing on education, culture, tourism, publishing, sports,  science and technology, people’s livelihood and green development,  pooling the strengths of youth, women, media and think tanks, and  mobilizing resources at sub-national and non-governmental levels. The  program will include but not limited to the following:

Young Leaders

To  encourage mutual learning and foster enduring friendships among the  younger generation, the two sides will intensify youth exchanges by  convening the China-Africa Youth Festival, the China-Africa Youth  Culture Forum, the China-Africa Future Leaders’ Dialogue, and the  China-Africa Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition,  establishing the China-Africa Youth Space Alliance, and facilitating  visits by young African political party leaders and government officials  to China for study trips and multilateral exchanges.

Culture Kaleidoscope 

To  promote mutual understanding, mutual affinity and mutual appreciation  between the two peoples, the two sides will advance exchanges in the  fields of culture, tourism, film and television, publishing, sports,  etc. through activities such as the China-Africa Exchange Month  Featuring Cultural Silk Road, the China-Africa Cultural and Tourism  Exchange Conference, the Conference on Dialogue Between Chinese and  African Civilizations, the China-Africa Wushu Conference, and the  China-Africa Audio-Visual Program Screening. The two sides will also  promote internet celebrity interaction, and encourage holding photo  exhibitions in each other’s countries and participating in book  exhibitions and other cultural and tourism promotion events hosted by  the other side.

Livelihood Boosters

To  bring more tangible benefits of China-Africa friendship to the people,  the two sides will deepen exchanges and cooperation in the areas of  health, poverty reduction, public welfare, livelihood, well-being of  people with disabilities, etc. by holding such activities as the FOCAC  Poverty Reduction and Development Conference, the “100 Medical Teams in  1,000 Villages” program and the Seminar on Poverty Reduction and  Development for African Officials, and facilitating the establishment of  more sister-city relations.

Symphony of Ideas

To  enhance sharing of experience in national governance and modernization,  the two sides will step up exchange of ideas among think tanks and  media, and at the people-to-people level, by organizing events such as  the Seminar on Chinese Modernization and African Development, and the  China-Africa Friendship Organization Leaders Meeting. China will invite  delegations from the African Union’s Economic, Social and Cultural  Council and African countries to visit China for research and exchanges.

Talent Incubators

To  translate talent resources into drivers of modernization, the two sides  will strengthen exchanges and cooperation in education, vocational  training, women’s empowerment, ICT and AI technologies through the  China-Africa Innovation Cooperation and Development Forum, the  Capability Enhancement Program for African Female Leaders, the African  Women Entrepreneurship Empowerment Program, and the African Youth  Innovation and Entrepreneurship Program, etc.

At the  end of the year, the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges  will conclude with a ceremony to take stock of the events held  throughout the year, showcase the achievements, and issue certificates  for exemplary projects. There will also be cultural performances at the  ceremony.

III.Publicizing

Both sides  will invite Chinese and African media to cover the activities of the  Year, invite the relevant institutions of the two sides to promote the  activities and their outcomes, and tap into the potential of new media  such as social media and self-media platforms, to encourage greater  public engagement and amplify the impact of the Year.