The opening ceremony of the “2026 China-Africa Intercultural Exchange Year” held at the African Union (AU) headquarters in Addis Ababa serves as a threshold that makes Beijing’s vision for Africa visible both symbolically and strategically.[i] The ceremony, attended by high-level Chinese and African representatives, revealed plans for approximately 600 cultural and people-to-people events across the continent and in China throughout 2026, demonstrating that this initiative is framed within a comprehensive framework that goes beyond mere protocol gestures.[ii] Systematic references to the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations also reveal that Beijing is attempting to redefine the China-Africa relationship based not only on current economic and security issues, but also on the construction of a shared memory and identity.[iii]
In his congratulatory letter sent on the occasion of the opening, Xi Jinping emphasized that the 2026 China-Africa Intercultural Exchange Year was based on an important political consensus reached between the leaders of the two sides, while also noting that this year marks the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations.[iv]
In his message, Xi highlighted concepts such as “shared future/society,” “shared modernization,” and “civilizational mutual learning,” portraying China and Africa not only as trading partners but also as bearers of moral and political solidarity in the Global South.[v] In this context, interaction between peoples has become an instrument for the search for a new global normative order, beyond being a cultural bridge bringing together a population of over 2.8 billion.
This scene offers important clues about the African dimension of the “community with a shared future” narrative frequently voiced by the Xi administration in recent years. While sharing its development experience and modernization model with Africa, China avoids defining this as a one-way “aid” relationship; it supports its narrative with an emphasis on joint struggle, shared memory, and mutual benefit.[vi]
The opening in Addis Ababa and the events planned throughout the year reinforce Beijing’s intention to present its presence in Africa as a continuation of a long historical continuity, while also reflecting its search for a political foundation for the future. It is from this point that the following question becomes clear: Is China establishing relations with Africa solely based on today’s needs, or is it building a multi-layered and long-term political foundation based on “memory” and a “shared narrative of the future”?
As we approach this question, it would be useful to briefly touch upon the historical background of China-Africa relations. Starting in the 1950s, particularly after the Bandung Conference, Beijing built ideological and political bridges with Africa through anti-colonial rhetoric and Third World solidarity. During the Cold War years, projects such as the Tanzania-Zambia Railway (TAZARA) allowed China to be visible on the continent through infrastructure and development rather than military alliances. Today, the emphasis on the 70th anniversary can be interpreted as a conscious choice to frame the China-Africa relationship with the narrative of “meeting on the right side of history,” to the extent that it updates this historical legacy.
The aims announced within the scope of the 2026 China-Africa Intercultural Exchange Year are designed as tools that strengthen the link between historical memory and current geopolitical realities. According to the official statements, activities ranging from cultural programs, youth exchanges, sister city initiatives, joint media productions, think tank collaborations, and scholarship programs will be carried out throughout the year.[vii] In this way, Beijing is adding community-based interaction networks to its traditional diplomatic channels, attempting to structure the psychological and symbolic dimensions of relations more systematically. In this context, the discourse of intercultural interaction is becoming the foundation of long-term geopolitical memory engineering rather than merely a symbiotic space that increases “soft power” capacity.
This memory construction is coded in China’s official narrative through concepts such as “historic friendship,” “joint struggle,” and “joint modernization.” The Chinese side prefers to present Africa as an irreplaceable partner in Global South solidarity rather than within a reductive context that defines it solely in terms of natural resources and market potential.
For this very reason, intercultural programs are emerging as tools that aim to strengthen the vision of an egalitarian partnership that moves in the opposite direction of past colonial experiences. Such a discourse both challenges Western-centric normative superiority and functions as part of a strategic effort to establish China as a symbol of shared development in the African public sphere.
The recent strategic dialogue meeting with the African Union represents another step towards strengthening the institutional dimension of this broad framework. The joint discussion of security, development, and multilateralism at the Addis Ababa dialogue suggests that China views these areas not as separate files but as complementary pillars in its approach to the continent. The definition of the AU as the institutional voice of the continent reflects Beijing’s seriousness about intra-African organizations and its emphasis on institutionalizing bilateral relations at the Pan-African level. Thus, the agenda of intercultural interaction is no longer merely a showcase serving a cultural softening function, but has become a complementary component that reinforces the legitimacy of the security and development dossiers.
In this context, China’s “community of shared destiny” discourse can also be read as an attempt to produce a new narrative against the long-dominant normative hegemony of the West in Africa. Rather than establishing a language that directly conflicts with the Western-centric discourse prioritizing democracy and human rights, Beijing prefers to build a positive agenda centered on development, modernization, equality, and mutual respect. Headlines such as “reducing poverty,” “closing the infrastructure gap,” and “the right to development” have become elements that soften China’s image across the continent and increase its appeal, particularly as they are themes that align with the expectations of the young population. To the extent that this positive agenda is embodied in intercultural programs, it strengthens the credibility of the Chinese narrative on the ground.
Meanwhile, with the increase in educational scholarships, the number of African students attending Chinese universities is rising; these students are both establishing close contact with the Chinese language and culture and gaining the opportunity to observe Beijing’s development story from within. Similarly, China-centered media content, digital platforms, and social media campaigns have become the main channels shaping the continent’s new generations’ perceptions of China. In this process, a new memory of “China’s presence in Africa” is being created; a different image of China, focused on technology, infrastructure, and development, transcending past colonial experiences, is slowly taking root. In the long term, how this image will reflect on political preferences, foreign policy orientations, and power balances within Africa remains an open-ended question of significance today.
On the other hand, China’s intensive intercultural programs also present significant opportunities for African actors. Alongside the dialogue platforms under the AU umbrella, civil society meetings and youth forums can create grounds for strengthening Africa’s own narrative.
When these areas are effectively operated, the African side can express its expectations, red lines, and development priorities regarding China more clearly. Thus, the “community with a shared future” discourse has the potential to become more than just a framework put forward by Beijing; it could transform into a more equality-based platform where Africa can negotiate its own development vision with China.
In conclusion, the intertwining of the 70th anniversary emphasis and the 2026 China-Africa Intercultural Exchange Year stands out as part of Beijing’s strategy to secure a permanent place in the memory of the Global South. China views intercultural interaction as a basis for joint production, knowledge sharing, and inclusive modernization. This allows it to translate its rhetoric of a “community with a shared future” with Africa into political reality.
Any deviation from this course risks reducing cultural and symbolic intensity to an extension of infrastructure and raw material-centered interests. In this context, Africa is not a passive recipient of this process, but a co-author of the narrative. The direction in which China’s proposed framework evolves will be determined by the continent’s own political agency, institutional capacity, and sociocultural preferences.
[i] “China, Africa to Hold Nearly 600 Cultural, People-to-People Exchange Events in 2026: FM Spokesperson.” The State Council Information Office of the People’s Republic of China, 9 Ocak 2026, https://english.www.gov.cn/news/202601/09/content_WS6960ea27c6d00ca5f9a08826.html, (Access Date: 12.01.2026).
[ii] “Xi Jinping Sends Congratulatory Letter to the Launching Ceremony of the 2026 China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges.” Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Republic of India, 8 Ocak 2026, https://in.china-embassy.gov.cn/eng/zgxw/202601/t20260109_11810129.htm, (Access Date: 12.01.2026).
[iii] “China, Africa to Stage 600 Cultural Exchange Events in 2026.” Bastille Post Global Edition, 8 Ocak 2026, https://www.bastillepost.com/global/article/5515911-china-africa-to-stage-600-cultural-exchange-events-in-2026, (Access Date: 12.01.2026).
[iv] “Joint Press Release of the African Union – China Strategic Dialogue.” African Union, 7 Ocak 2026, https://au.int/en/pressreleases/20260108/joint-press-release-african-union-china-strategic-dialogue, (Access Date: 12.01.2026).
[v] ibid.
[vi] ibid.
[vii] “Xi Jinping Sends Congratulatory Letter to the Launching Ceremony of the 2026 China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges.” Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Republic of India, 8 Ocak 2026, https://in.china-embassy.gov.cn/eng/zgxw/202601/t20260109_11810129.htm. (Access Date: 12.01.2026).
