Kenya and China have pledged to deepen people-to-people connections, foster mutual learning, and share experiences that strengthen the bond between the two nations. Leaders from both sides stressed that strong social and cultural ties remain the bedrock of development that benefits everyone.
This commitment was a central theme at the China-Africa Women and Youth Development Dialogue and the launch of Sing for Africa Season II in Nairobi. The event brought together Kenyan officials, Chinese representatives, women and youth leaders, artists, development partners, and members of the creative industry.
Attendees included visiting officials from the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, notably its Secretary-General Hao Zhongwei, alongside representatives from the Chinese Embassy in Kenya and other Chinese institutions.
Hao advocated for continuous innovation in platforms for people-to-people exchanges, particularly among women and young people, to create more opportunities for mutual learning. He highlighted programmes like Sing for Africa as sustainable avenues for Chinese and African people to deepen understanding and celebrate their respective cultures.
“We should keep pace with the times, continuously enrich the forms of people-to-people exchanges, and create a number of brand programmes like Sing for Africa that are innovative, distinctive, popular, and sustainable,” Hao stated.
He further suggested that China and Africa should enhance the sharing of experiences in areas such as women’s empowerment, youth development, and local-level governance. Such exchanges, he argued, could provide intellectual support for their respective modernisation efforts.
Hao also called for expanded youth exchanges, envisioning young Chinese and Africans as partners and pioneers in advancing the longstanding friendship between the two sides.
The Chinese official affirmed the readiness of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries to collaborate with partners across China and Africa to consolidate cooperation and build what he described as an “all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future.”
The remarks coincide with the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Africa, with 2026 designated as the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges.
Zhang Zhizhong, Minister Counsellor at the Chinese Embassy, noted that the anniversary presents an opportunity to broaden cooperation beyond traditional areas and strengthen connections between the citizens of China and African countries.
He observed that exchanges involving women and youth have become a vital pillar of China-Africa cooperation, with programmes like Sing for Africa fostering talent development and cultural understanding.
“Music is a universal language that transcends borders and connects hearts,” Zhang remarked, describing cultural exchange as an important vehicle for mutual learning among civilisations.
He announced that the second season of Sing for Africa would have a greater focus on African women, providing them with opportunities to showcase their talents and pursue their creative ambitions.
Zhang also drew attention to youth programmes being implemented as part of the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges, including the China-Africa Youth Mombasa-Nairobi Railway Humanitarian Exchange Initiative, the African Youth Artificial Intelligence Innovation Competition, and study tours in China.
He encouraged young people to embrace diversity and become active participants, builders, and custodians of China-Kenya and China-Africa friendship.
Kenya’s Principal Secretary for Gender Affairs and Affirmative Action, Anne Wang’ombe, said the partnership should translate into practical opportunities for women and young people, particularly through skills development, economic empowerment, and the creative economy.
She stated that people-to-people connectivity remains the bedrock of sustainable diplomacy. “Through joint cultural dialogues, educational exchanges, and talent development agreements, Kenya and China are building inclusive pathways that uplift women and young people,” she said.
She described the dialogue as a concrete outcome of the 2024 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), arguing that empowering women and youth was not just a social obligation but an economic and strategic imperative.
She also identified public-private partnerships and corporate social responsibility initiatives as avenues for expanding the impact of China-Kenya cooperation.
She positioned the creative economy as a significant avenue for employment, innovation, and cross-border collaboration, stating that programmes like Sing for Africa could help young people transform creative talent into sustainable livelihoods.
“By integrating cultural dialogue, public welfare initiatives, and affirmative action strategies, we ensure that the benefits of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation reach the grassroots, thereby touching families, inspiring young minds, and transforming communities,” remarked the PS.
Noah Otiende Ochieng, Acting Secretary for Creative Economy, noted that Kenya-China relations have increasingly expanded beyond trade and infrastructure to encompass cultural exchange, education, innovation, and opportunities for young people.
He argued that creativity should not be viewed solely as entertainment, but as a tool for social connection, economic participation, and international cooperation.
“Music, like all forms of art, has the power to inspire, unite communities, promote understanding, and amplify voices that deserve to be heard,” Otiende said.
He highlighted that Sing for Africa is creating opportunities for emerging African talent while strengthening cultural ties across continents.
Officials also linked the people-to-people agenda to the broader framework of China-Africa cooperation, including the outcomes of the 2024 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. They said the Nairobi dialogue underscored a broader shift towards prioritising citizens, particularly women and young people, in bilateral engagement.
Speakers concurred that sustained people-to-people engagement would deepen mutual understanding, create new opportunities for collaboration, and ensure that China-Kenya relations deliver tangible benefits to people on both sides.
