The commissioning of China's Fujian aircraft carrier, which has been successfully conducting tests and training in accordance with the plan, is "not far off," said Zhang Xiaogang, spokesman of the Chinese Ministry of National Defense, at a press briefing in Beijing on Thursday.
Zhang made the statement in response to a media inquiry on the carrier-based aircraft J-15T, J-35 and KongJing-600's completion of their inaugural electromagnetic catapult-assisted takeoff and arrested landing training aboard the Fujian aircraft carrier, which took place on Monday.
"Recently, the carrier-based aircraft J-15T, J-35 and KongJing-600 have successfully completed their catapult-assisted takeoff and landing training aboard the Fujian aircraft carrier. The success of the training demonstrates that the Fujian has obtained electromagnetic catapult launch and recovery capabilities, paving the way for multiple types of carrier-based aircraft to be integrated into the carrier formation, and marking a milestone in the development of China's aircraft carriers. The tests and training of the Fujian aircraft carrier are progressing as planned and the day we have all been waiting for is not far off," said Zhang.
J-15T, J-35 and KongJing-600 aircraft were showcased during a massive military parade China held on Sept 3 to mark the 80th anniversary of victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.
KongJing-600, China's first carrier-based fixed-wing early warning aircraft, will significantly expand the range of early warning detection and airspace surveillance, and greatly extend the aircraft carrier's defense and strike radius.
The successful launches and landings of J-35 and J-15T fighter jets mean that the Fujian now boasts the capabilities of both defense penetration and heavy-load strikes.
Commissioning of China's Fujian aircraft carrier "not far off": spokesman
The Chinese Embassy in South Africa on Monday held an event in Pretoria, the country's administrative capital, to celebrate the launch of the 2026 China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges.
This year also marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and African countries.
Chinese Ambassador to South Africa Wu Peng said that over the past seven decades, under the joint guidance of leaders from both sides, China-Africa people-to-people and cultural exchanges have continued to expand, yielding fruitful outcomes.
Noting that the world is undergoing profound changes unseen in a century, Wu said China and Africa need to uphold fairness and justice, strengthen solidarity and mutual assistance, and enhance exchanges and cooperation more than ever before.
Taking the launch of the China-Africa Year of People-to-people Exchanges as an opportunity, Wu called for upholding the original aspiration of friendship, solidifying the foundation of cooperation, enhancing two-way efforts, and accelerating the building of an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era.
Mmapaseka Steve Letsike, South Africa's deputy minister of women, youth, and persons with disabilities, said South Africa and China enjoy strong and historic bonds of friendship as close international cooperation partners in the political, economic, social, technical and multilateral domains.
"The significance of people-to-people is really about how we elevate the people's life to a just and equitable stance that we want to see. We want a better Africa; we want a better world. And that for us is significant," said Letsike.
"Through people-to-people exchanges, we promote mutual understanding, and that is the basis of building mutual trust, building peaceful coexistence. People-to-people exchange is a very important instrument for peace and mutual understanding," said Bongani Maimele, director of international relations with South Africa's National School of Government.
The opening ceremony of the 2026 China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges was held at the African Union headquarters on Jan 8. According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, the two sides will jointly host nearly 600 cultural and people-to-people exchange activities in 2026 to enhance exchanges and mutual learning between the two civilizations, and promote mutual understanding and connection between the peoples.
Organizing the 2026 China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges is an important consensus reached by leaders from both sides at the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Beijing Summit in 2024.
Chinese Embassy in South Africa unveils 2026 China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges
