African Union (AU) Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf has emphasized that people-to-people exchanges are vital for strengthening China-Africa relations, during an exclusive interview with China Media Group (CMG) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
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.
President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the opening of the 2026 China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges, in which he stressed that exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations are a driving force for human progress and a foundation for peace and development.
In the CMG interview aired Friday, Youssouf, who attended the opening ceremony, said that putting people first is the key to achieving development goals and consolidating China-Africa relations.
"First of all, I want to thank and congratulate President Xi Jinping for this initiative of making of this year 2026 the year of partnership between the people of China and people of Africa. We believe that in this continent, if we want to succeed in what we are trying to do in Agenda 2063 objectives, it should be people-centered. I think this concept of creating those bridges between the Chinese people and the African people is really an existential issue, because at the end of the day, our political action is in the best interest for the well-being of our people. So we welcome this idea. We have been privileged to host this event here. I think it's a really a launching pad for a very rich year of exchanges between our two peoples," he said.
AU chairperson highlights people-to-people exchanges as key to China-Africa future
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Wednesday that the red line on protecting civilians in conflicts must not be crossed.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks in a phone conversation with Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, deputy prime minister and foreign minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Abdullah briefed Wang on the regional situation and the UAE's position, saying the country is not a party to the war, has not participated in the current conflict, and should not be subjected to illegal attacks.
He expressed appreciation for China's consistent objective and impartial stance, adding that the UAE expects China to continue to play an active and important role in the current grave circumstances to prevent further escalation of regional tensions.
The UAE will continue to take measures to ensure the safety of Chinese personnel and institutions in the country, Abdullah said.
For his part, Wang reiterated China's principled position on the current situation in Iran, noting that the spillover of war serves no one's interests and that the people of the region would be the ones to suffer.
He stressed that non-military targets related to energy, economy and people's livelihoods should not be attacked, and that the security of shipping routes must be safeguarded.
Wang noted that the UAE had worked for peace even before the conflict broke out, and that a recent foreign ministers' meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council emphasized that dialogue and diplomacy are the only way to overcome the current crisis and safeguard regional security, which China appreciates.
China backs the UAE's legitimate demands to safeguard its national security and supports countries in the region in their continued efforts to resolve disputes through diplomatic means, Wang said.
China will not give up hope for peace and will continue to play a constructive role, Wang said, adding that China will send its special envoy on the Middle East issue to the region to conduct mediation efforts to help bring the region back to peace and stability.
Wang also expressed hope that the UAE will continue to ensure the safety of Chinese citizens and institutions in the country.
Chinese FM says red line on protecting civilians in conflict must not be crossed
