On January 13, 2026, the Chinese Embassy in Pretoria hosted a special cultural event to officially launch the 2026 China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges (CAYoP2PE) in South Africa. The ceremony underscores the deepening ties between China and African nations, coinciding with the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and the continent.Chinese Ambassador to South Africa Wu Peng delivered a keynote address, emphasizing the significance of the initiative. He noted that over the past seven decades, under the guidance of leaders from both sides, China-Africa people-to-people and cultural exchanges have expanded considerably, producing substantial results.
Ambassador Wu highlighted the current global context of profound changes unseen in a century, stressing that China and Africa must uphold fairness and justice, strengthen solidarity and mutual assistance, and enhance cooperation more than ever before.
“Taking the launch of the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges as an opportunity, we should uphold the original aspiration of friendship, solidify the foundation of cooperation, enhance our two-way efforts, and accelerate the building of an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era,” Wu stated.
Related
Karyn White Returns To South Africa with a Live Magic Music Sessions Sun City Show
Minister Tau leads SA delegation to China for key trade talksThe South African event follows the continental kick-off held on January 8, 2026, at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
That ceremony featured Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who read a congratulatory letter from President Xi Jinping and delivered a keynote speech. President Xi described the year as an important consensus reached with African leaders, marking a key step to cement public support for China-Africa friendship at a new historical starting point.
He called for carrying forward traditional friendship, strengthening mutual learning among civilizations, expanding exchanges—particularly among youth—and deepening governance experience sharing to jointly advance modernization.
The initiative aims to foster closer bonds among the more than 2.8 billion people of China and Africa, contributing to Global South solidarity, the promotion of common human values, and the building of a community with a shared future for humanity. A comprehensive list of 58 key activities has been unveiled, covering areas such as culture, education, tourism, arts, youth programs, and vocational training through platforms like Luban Workshops.
In South Africa, officials reinforced the practical dimensions of these exchanges. Nkhumeleni Victor Vele, Director-General of the country’s tourism department, described tourism as one of the most direct and powerful forms of people-to-people interaction, noting China’s status as a priority source market for inclusive economic growth and job creation.
The 2026 designation builds on longstanding mechanisms like the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and reflects a strategic shift toward “heartware” — deepening cultural and social connections alongside economic partnerships.
As events unfold across the continent, the year promises to open a vibrant new chapter in civilizational dialogue and shared development between China and Africa
