China Africa Talk

Happy Chinese New Year! The annual celebration of Chinese New Year has evolved into a powerful symbol of the deepening ties between China and Africa. As we welcome the Year of the Horse, we explore the symbolic meaning of the horse in both Chinese and African traditions and key themes and milestones lie ahead for China-Africa relations in the new year.

South Africa and China have signed a framework trade and investment deal aimed at expanding bilateral economic ties. The agreement is expected to grant more South African exports duty-free access to the Chinese market and facilitate increased Chinese investment. What does the signing of the deal signal about how China and South Africa are prioritizing the growth of trade and investment ties, especially in the context of the current international economic environment?

Recently, Zimbabwean war veterans wrote to Chinese President Xi Jinping to express their gratitude for China's support during Zimbabwe's liberation struggle. In his January 28 reply, President Xi commended the veterans for dedicating their youth to the cause of national liberation and for forging a profound friendship with the Chinese people along the way. How did China and Zimbabwe work together during the liberation era, and what lasting legacy has that solidarity produced, especially for younger generations?

From drinking warm water and eating congee to wearing slippers indoors, social media users around the world are embracing everyday Chinese lifestyle habits as part of the viral "Becoming Chinese" trend. Seen through an African lens, what is driving the growing appeal of Chinese culture? And how can China and Africa work together to better promote mutual understanding through cultural exchange? Content creators from China and Africa share their perspectives on how these everyday practices are being adopted, reinterpreted, and woven into cross-cultural dialogue.

In an exclusive interview with CGTN Radio, Douglas Mahiya, a Politburo Member and Secretary for War Veterans of Zimbabwe's ruling ZANU PF party, speaks highly of President Xi Jinping's reply to Zimbabwe's national liberation struggle veterans. Mahiya highlights how the letter reaffirms the enduring bond between China and Zimbabwe. He emphasizes that this legacy continues to inspire collaboration today.

As China and Africa enter the 2026 Year of People-to-People Exchanges, greater emphasis is being placed on cultural, educational, youth, and social engagement. With hundreds of activities planned, the move aims to deepen mutual understanding and strengthen the social foundations of China-Africa relations. Erastus Mwencha, former Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission, shares how these exchanges align with AU's Agenda 2063.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has continued China's long-standing tradition of beginning the year with a visit to Africa, a practice now in its 36th year. Against a backdrop of growing global uncertainty, the tour highlights China's commitment to deepening strategic trust with African partners and upholding multilateralism. Mapaballo Mile, Lesotho's Ambassador to China and Wang Jinjie, Research Assistant Professor at Peking University's National School of Development shed more light on the broader significance of Wang Yi's visit and the future of this enduring partnership.

Chinese has been formally included in Ghana's national school curriculum. The move comes amid expanding Ghana-China cooperation. As interest in Chinese language learning continues to rise across the continent, what is driving this trend, and what long-term opportunities could it unlock for African students and economies? We speak with Reginald Quartey, Acting Director for Curriculum at Ghana's National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA).

2026 marks the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges, a milestone in strengthening mutual understanding between the two sides. The year also celebrates the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and African countries, highlighting decades of friendship and cooperation. Throughout 2026, a series of programs will showcase achievements, promote exchanges, and explore new opportunities for collaboration.

As the 2025 draws to a close, which key moments and milestones have defined the China- Africa relations? Despite the challenges faced in various sectors, how have the relations evolved and what impact has this had? In this episode, Professors Liu Baocheng, Director of Center of International Business Ethics, University of International Business and Economics, and Charles Onunaiju, Director of the Center for China Studies in Nigeria delve into the key moments and milestones that shaped China-Africa relations in 2025.

As we approach the end of 2025, it's a meaningful moment to pause and reflect on how the China-Africa partnership has evolved over the past year. In this special episode, three young and inspiring guests working on the frontline of China-Africa cooperation join us to share their personal experiences and stories, offering a clearer and more vivid picture of how this important partnership is growing and transforming.

Attending as guest of honor at the 11th Global Tourism Economy Forum held in Harbin, Zimbabwe draws insights from China's culture-driven tourism model. We speak with Stanley Banda, Zimbabwe's Tourism Attaché to China and ASEAN, on key takeaways from the forum and opportunities for deeper China-Africa tourism cooperation

As global environmental challenges intensify and geopolitical tensions strain international cooperation, the mandate of the United Nations Environment Assembly has never been more significant. Meeting from December 8 to 12 in Nairobi, UNEA-7 brings together delegates from around the world to advance sustainable solutions for a resilient planet. Ma Jun and Ali-Said Matano weigh in on why UNEA's role is essential in shaping the future of global environmental governance.

China and Africa are working together to realize the right to development. Professor Liu Hongwu, Director of the Institute of African Studies at Zhejiang Normal University, explains why development-centered human rights lie at the heart of China-Africa collaboration and how this approach aligns with Africa's own priorities.

Kenya is accelerating its infrastructure development with a major highway expansion, backed by Chinese expertise and financing. The key Mombasa-Nairobi corridor, a vital trade gateway to Uganda and other inland nations, is being transformed from a single-lane road into a modern four-to-six-lane highway. What does it signal about the high-quality Belt and Road cooperation?

The revitalization of the TAZARA railway, a landmark project of China-Africa friendship, has officially begun. Following a high-level groundbreaking ceremony, this modernized "Freedom Railway" is poised to enhance regional connectivity and inject new momentum into the economic development of Tanzania, Zambia, and the broader region.

For the first time in its history, the G20 Leaders' Summit is held on African soil, with South Africa wielding the rotating presidency. This landmark event has placed the continent in the spotlight, prompting a critical question: Is this a fleeting moment of prestige, or can it be leveraged into a genuine turning point for Africa's development?

Ethiopia and Kenya have become the first African countries to adopt yuan-based debt-swap arrangements, seeking to alleviate the burden of their dollar-denominated debts. This move reflects a growing demand for the Chinese yuan in Africa to avoid foreign exchange losses and transaction costs. We dissect this trend and its implications.

Rwanda has participated in the China International Import Expo (CIIE) since its inception in 2018, leveraging the platform to bring its exceptional coffee, chilies, and handicrafts into countless Chinese households. Rwandan Ambassador to China James Kimonyo shares how the East African nation is using the platform not only to expand exports, but also to attract Chinese investment, forging a partnership that fuels mutual growth.

The 8th China International Import Expo (CIIE) has set new records in both exhibition area and exhibitor numbers, attracting over 4,000 exhibitors from 155 countries, regions, and international organizations. With African participation growing significantly, including 17 countries in the Country Exhibition, how is the CIIE creating pathways for Africa's growth and innovation, and fostering a shared future between China and Africa?

At the recent CPC Central Committee plenum, China set the blueprint for its 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030), reinforcing a focus on high-quality development and technological advancement. We explore the implications for global partners, with a special look at what it means for Africa.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the United Nations, the world's largest international organization dedicated to peace, security, and cooperation. Since its founding in 1945, the UN has been a platform for dialogue among nations. In this episode, we reflect on eight decades of the UN's evolution and explore how it must adapt to remain relevant in a changing world.

Three decades after the landmark 1995 UN World Conference on Women in Beijing, Gertrude Mongella, Secretary-General of the conference and a pioneer in global women's empowerment, returns to the city for the Global Leaders' Meeting on Women. In an exclusive interview with China Africa Talk, she reflects on the legacy of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, shares her insights on China's growing contribution to global gender equality, and offers her hopes for how future generations of women can live in a fairer and more equal world.

In celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, CGTN Radio has launched Together Forward, a special feature series showcasing the breadth and depth of China-Africa partnership. A launch event for the series was held at the Communication University of China on October 10th, bringing together its main protagonists and experts who shared personal stories of China-Africa friendship and collaboration. Here's the audio recording of that event. (Please note: The background music in the behind-the-scenes video is AI-generated.)

The Beijing Action Plan (2025–2027), adopted at last year's FOCAC meeting, lays out a detailed roadmap to deepen cooperation across trade, industrialization, green development, digital innovation, and people-to-people exchange. In just one year, the plan has already produced tangible results, from new investment partnerships to stronger collaboration.

A "green wave" is reshaping China-Africa cooperation. In Kenya, from solar-powered poultry coops to smart greenhouses that read the soil like a living language, Chinese green technologies are transforming livelihoods and powering the country's sustainable future.

Opening its doors in 2021, Mmopane Primary School is one of four built with Chinese assistance in Botswana. We explore how the school is providing quality education and changing the lives of many children and their families.

The China-Africa Science and Technology Backyard program is nurturing high-quality agricultural talents for Africa. Leveraging China's experience and techniques, those young leaders are empowering farmers and improving the livelihoods of thousands across the continent.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). Since its launch in 2000, FOCAC has delivered concrete benefits in political trust, trade, infrastructure, education, health, and people - to- people exchanges, while deepening ties between China and Africa. Join us as we look at how this framework has shaped development over the past quarter century.

Over the past decade, China has drilled more than one thousand boreholes across Zimbabwe, benefiting nearly 400-thousand people, most of them in rural areas. We take you to a China-drilled borehole in the southern African country, and explore how the facility has brought clean water and hope.

China-Africa trade is thriving, with Yiwu playing a growing role in connecting markets and people. Two African entrepreneurs share how they are finding new opportunities and building stronger ties between China and Africa.

A Chinese director has spent over a decade documenting China-Africa stories, using his camera to bridge cultures and foster understanding. He's also dedicated to mentoring the next generation of China-Africa storytellers, further strengthening the partnership.

China's Global Governance Initiative arrives at a pivotal moment for the Global South. For Africa, its five principles, sovereign equality, international rule of law, multilateralism, a people-centered approach, and concrete action, chart a path to redress historical imbalances and share decision-making more fairly. Charles Onunaiju believes the GGI can help rebalance global power towards a more inclusive and equitable international order.

At the "Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Plus" summit in Tianjin, President Xi Jinping unveiled the Global Governance Initiative (GGI) which highlights sovereign equality, respect for international law, genuine multilateralism, and people-centered cooperation and concrete cooperation. Liu Baocheng and Paul Frimpong weigh in on how GGI is presented as a blueprint for reforming global governance and expanding the role of the Global South.

The 2025 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) has drawn active participation from Africa, offering new opportunities to connect, innovate, and collaborate with China. Titus Nampala, CEO of the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Emma Mutijima, Rwandan coffee exporter and CEO of Phoenix Ventures Ltd., share their perspectives on how African exhibitors can leverage CIFTIS to showcase the continent's strengths, build partnerships, and become active participants in shaping the future of global service trade.

World War II was won by a global effort, but its history is incomplete. Liu Baocheng and Kenneth Ombongi share the crucial, yet overlooked, roles of China and Africa in defeating fascism and how this shared past is forging a new future.

What is the Shanghai Cooperation Organization's (SCO) on-the-ground impact? For journalists on a recent tour of China's facilities, the answer is clear: it's a vital channel for sharing expertise and driving common development. Journalists from Pakistan and South Africa share their eye-opening insights on how China is fostering partnership within the SCO and across the Global South.

Yangling in northwest China's Shaanxi Province is becoming a hub for agricultural cooperation under the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). Home to China's first national-level agricultural high-tech zone, Yangling is driving innovation and exchange, attracting experts from across the Global South to explore new solutions in sustainable farming and agricultural modernization.

China's "lucid waters and lush mountains" vision, a pillar of its green development strategy for two decades, is inspiring fresh opportunities for China–Africa cooperation. Experts from China and Africa share how it can strengthen environmental partnerships and promote sustainable growth on the African continent.

As new U.S. tariffs take effect, African countries like South Africa and Lesotho are facing growing trade pressures. With the U.S. seen as a less predictable partner, experts are exploring how deeper China-Africa cooperation could help navigate the shifting landscape.

On July 29, young leaders from over 130 countries gather in Beijing for the World Youth Conference for Peace, where they share ideas on building a more peaceful and sustainable future. With a strong presence from China and Africa, the event highlights the power of youth in promoting dialogue, cooperation, and green development. These young voices are shaping a new narrative of unity, action, and hope.

As the Ramsar COP15 unfolds in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, the spotlight is once again on global efforts to protect wetlands. Building on the momentum of the Wuhan Declaration adopted at COP14 in China, this year's conference brings together 172 parties to chart a shared path forward. Lei Guangchun and Anthony Phiri discuss priorities and targets Africa and China can set to protect wetlands and promote environmental sustainability for a shared future.