Across mountains and seas: China-Africa people-to-people bonds deepen in Guizhou

In the summer of 2026, on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and African countries, diplomats and friendly personnel from nine African nations traveled to Guizhou, a mountainous province in southwestern China known for its rich ethnic diversity and breathtaking landscapes. There, they embarked on an immersive journey into rural China.

The trip was jointly organized by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), the Guizhou Provincial People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, and the Guizhou Provincial Sports Bureau, as a key event of the 2026 China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges.

On the Village Super League pitch in Rongjiang, they played a friendly match against a local amateur team. In Dong ethnic villages, they tried batik craft and witnessed firsthand the care and commitment with which China preserves its ethnic minority cultures, a living heritage passed down through generations.

Every conversation and heartfelt interaction draws the Chinese and African peoples ever closer.