ADDIS ABABA - Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi put forward four proposals to advance China-Africa cooperation in a keynote speech delivered at the launching ceremony of the 2026 China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges held on Thursday at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, called for China and Africa to prioritize development and work together as partners in advancing modernization.

Guided by a six-point proposition on China and Africa's joint pursuit of modernization, he said that the two sides should actively implement the outcomes of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, promoting people-to-people exchanges and practical cooperation.

Wang said that China and Africa should put people first, foster long-term people-to-people exchange mechanisms, and fully implement the partnership action for people-to-people exchanges, in a bid to further enrich interactions between the peoples of China and Africa and continuously promote closer bonds among the more than 2.8 billion people.

Calling on China and Africa to uphold mutual learning, Wang said both sides should make full use of China-Africa governance experience exchange platforms and other mechanisms to share experiences in party and state governance and in advancing modernization.

Wang said China and Africa should also embrace openness and inclusiveness. Guided by the vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity and focusing on the implementation of the four major global initiatives, he said, both sides should work together to address global challenges and contribute to the progress of human civilization, as well as strengthen coordination in international and regional affairs to safeguard the common interests of developing countries.

Wang emphasized that China and Africa are at critical stages of their development and revitalization, urging both sides to take the launch of the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges as an opportunity to consolidate the foundation of cooperation, and promote the building of an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era.  

China-AU Strategic Dialogue 

Wang and African Union (AU) Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf on Thursday jointly held the ninth China-AU Strategic Dialogue at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa.

They exchanged views on China-Africa joint efforts in advancing modernization, global governance, zero-tariff treatment, the International Organization for Mediation, and the Outlook on Peace and Development in the Horn of Africa.

Both sides noted that China and the AU, both as members of the Global South, share a broad consensus on major international and regional issues.

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People-to-people exchanges

Wang on Thursday highlighted the fruitful results and strong vitality of people-to-people and cultural exchanges between China and Africa.

In his keynote speech, Wang said that both sides value youth exchanges, building a bridge of communication for Chinese and African youth through various platforms, including the Talk with Taikonauts.

China and Africa focus on talent development and empowerment, he said, citing the advancement of the China-Africa vocational education cooperation plan and the establishment of 17 Luban Workshops in 15 African countries, which have trained tens of thousands of professionals and provided solid intellectual support for Africa's development.

China-Ethiopia ties

Wang on Thursday met with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Minister of Foreign Affairs Gedion Timothewos in Addis Ababa, with both sides pledging to jointly advance the implementation of the outcomes of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).

In a joint press release, both sides agreed to deepen all-round cooperation and strive to build the China-Ethiopia all-weather strategic partnership as a model for building an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era.

Both sides pledged to deepen cooperation in traditional areas, including economy, trade, infrastructure, energy, transportation, and justice, tap the potential for collaboration in emerging areas such as e-commerce, digital economy, artificial intelligence, and green energy, and expand cooperation in culture, tourism, media, education, and think tanks.

Both sides highlighted their willingness to take the 2026 China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges as an opportunity to promote people-to-people exchanges for closer bonds through culture and art.

They are willing to strengthen the alignment of development strategies and policies, deepen exchanges on governance experience, and jointly advance on the path to modernization, according to the press release.