On October 14, 2025, the Launch Ceremony of Logo Design Contest for 2026 China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges was held in Beijing. Lu Xiangdong, Vice President of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC); Martin Mpana, Head of the African Diplomatic Corps in China and Ambassador of Cameroon to China; Li Qi, Counselor of the Department of African Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China; Ding Ning, former Vice Dean of the School of Arts Peking University; and representative of Chinese judges, and Moses Sserunkuma, Ugandan designer; and representative of African judges, attended the event and delivered remarks. Xu Ciming, Secretary-General of the China Friendship Foundation for Peace and Development; Yan Ying, Deputy Director-General of the European and African Center of the China Foreign Languages Publishing Administration; and African ambassadors to China, as well as representatives from China and Africa's cultural, media, and youth sectors, totaling nearly 80 people, attended the launch ceremony.
In his remarks, Vice President Lu emphasized that the decision made by President Xi Jinping and African leaders to designate 2026 as the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges reflects a high-level consensus to build a new era of an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future. This initiative aims to inject certainty and positive energy into a world fraught with challenges. The contest aims to gather logo design proposals that vividly interpret the theme of the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges, align with the spirit of China-Africa friendly cooperation, and showcase high artistic standards. The designs will convey the profound significance and contemporary values of the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges, creating a vibrant visual identity for the event.
Ambassador Martin Mpana stated that President Xi Jinping has emphasized that the foundation and lifeblood of China-Africa relations lie with the people, and the development of these relations should focus more on the people. Cultural exchanges are a vital component of China-Africa cooperation and a source of vitality. The 2026 China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges will deepen mutual understanding and friendship between the people of China and Africa, injecting new momentum into the unity and development of the Global South. He extended a warm invitation to artists from both China and Africa to actively participate, fostering mutual learning of civilizations and contributing to the building of the China-Africa community with a shared future through creativity.
Representatives from both China and Africa agreed that exchanges in areas such as culture, tourism, think tanks, and media have been frequent and fruitful, laying a solid foundation for the long-term stability of China-Africa relations. This contest not only provides a platform for showcasing creativity but also serves as a symbol of deepening friendship. The hope is that 2026 will become a landmark year for China-Africa cultural exchanges, marking a new chapter in the history of China-Africa relations.
The Logo Design Contest for the 2026 China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges is hosted by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), organized by the European and African Center of the China Foreign Languages Publishing Administration, and supported by the China Friendship Foundation for Peace and Development.
