NAIROBI, Aug. 7– The second China-Africa People-to-People Public Welfare Exchange Forum took place in the Kenya capital of Nairobi on Friday, convening senior officials, lawmakers, diplomats and volunteers to deepen mutual friendship and intercultural dialogue.
Held alongside the eighth Carnival Series, the event concluded with the signing of several cooperation agreements on malaria control and the empowerment of women and children.
Anne Wang’ombe, principal secretary for the State Department for Gender and Affirmative Action in the Ministry of Gender, Culture and Children Services, said the forum marked the enduring bonds of friendship, solidarity and cultural cooperation between China and Africa.
“Our partnership is evolving beyond traditional economic ties into meaningful diplomacy, cultural exchanges and shared prosperity,” she added.
Wang’ombe noted Kenya’s commitment to deepening ties with China to advance child protection, digital inclusion, climate resilience, and the socio-economic empowerment of women and youth through skills training and innovation.
Chinese Ambassador to Kenya Guo Haiyan said the event fully embodied the profound friendship of mutual support between China and Africa, showcasing the vibrant momentum of people-to-people exchanges and cooperation.
The 2026 China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges aims to foster heart-to-heart connectivity, shared values, inter-civilization exchanges and a shared future between China and Africa, Guo said, adding that China-Africa friendship has been passed down from generation to generation, and their cooperation holds broad prospects.
Beatrice Elachi, secretary-general of the China-Africa Friendship Association (Kenya), said that people-to-people exchanges remain at the core of bilateral relations.
“Over the years, China has played an important role in strengthening cultural cooperation with Kenya and Africa by supporting young people involved in the performing arts, including music, dance and other cultural activities,” Elachi said.
She added that China has supported Kenya’s efforts to preserve its cultural heritage, improve literacy, expand vocational training opportunities for young people, and promote economic empowerment for vulnerable communities. (Namibia Daily News / Xinhua)
