China and Africa will hold nearly 600 people-to-people exchange activities in 2026 to deepen mutual learning between the two civilizations, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a press briefing in Beijing on Friday.
ID: 8460908 Her announcement came after the official launch of the 2026 China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges at the African Union (AU) headquarters in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, on Thursday.
"The 2026 China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges is a major initiative agreed between President Xi Jinping and African leaders during the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Beijing. President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the opening ceremony, expressing hope that both sides will take the people-to-people exchange year as an opportunity to carry forward traditional friendship, strengthen mutual learning between civilizations, enhance exchanges, especially among youth, deepen sharing of governance experience, and work hand in hand to advance modernization. Foreign Minister Wang Yi attended the opening ceremony, where he spoke highly of the achievements of China-Africa cultural exchanges and joined African guests in unveiling the logo for the Year of People-to-People Exchanges," said Mao.
"Throughout this year, the two sides will stage nearly 600 exchange activities under the theme of 'consolidating all-weather friendship, jointly pursuing modernization dreams' to enhance mutual learning between the two civilizations and promote people-to-people connectivity," she said.
China, Africa to stage 600 cultural exchange events in 2026
Chinese lawmakers on Tuesday began reviewing a draft healthcare security law, aiming to further protect the rights and interests of insured people.
The draft is now under a third reading at the ongoing session of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the country's top legislature, which runs through Friday. Under the draft, China will have a multi-tier medical security system with basic medical insurance at its core, complemented by other forms of protection, such as critical illness insurance.
China's basic medical insurance has two major schemes.
One scheme for formal employees is relatively well-funded, whereas the scheme for non-formal workers relies on government subsidies and faces more pressure.
The review emphasizes better financial coordination between the two schemes.
"If the draft passes, it would help move China toward more equitable and unified medical coverage. It also clarifies the institutional framework and realizes the principle of fairness and unity. This is an important signal about the future direction of the country's medical insurance system," said Zheng Gongcheng, a member of the Standing Committee of the 14th NPC.
The review addresses barriers for flexible workers, calling for clearer rules for them to enroll in employee medical insurance. It also targets people in financial hardship, proposing financial support for those in extreme need.
"We also propose financial assistance for vulnerable groups, including people facing extreme hardship, low income families, and those at risk of falling back into poverty, by helping cover their contributions to resident medical insurance," Zheng said.
The legislation marks China's first effort to regulate medical security through a dedicated law. It is expected to transform medical security from policy-driven initiatives into a stable, rights-based legal framework, ensuring long-term protection for every citizen.
China's top legislature reviews draft medical security law
