Youth exchanges

» Contact between young people has become an important part of China-Africa friendship and exchanges. During his visit to Africa in early 2007, Chinese President Hu Jintao announced the plan to invite 500 African youths to visit China in the following three years. According to this plan, ACYF had invited 500 African young people to visit China from 2007 to 2009. 

» The China-Africa Youth Festival was initiated by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao at the Second Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in 2003. The first, second, and third festivals were successfully hosted in 2004, 2006, and 2009 respectively.

» A 50-member Tanzania youth delegation visited China in 2009. Representatives from ACYF paid visits to African countries including Namibia, Tunisia, Sao Tome and Principe, Cameroon, Seychelles, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique.

» ACYF has carried out friendly exchanges with youngsters from Egypt in the field of ecological protection. Chinese youngsters planted the Sino-Egypt Youth Friendship Forest together with their Egyptian counterparts. ACYF has also donated multimedia equipment to the youth organizations of Seychelles and Cameroon.

Human resources training

» In October 2006, 13 youth representatives from four African countries visited China in an exchange program for youths of African countries.

» In June 2010, 24 youth cadres from major political parties of six African countries - Zimbabwe, Namibia, Kenya, Ethiopia, Seychelles and Zambia - attended an African youth leadership seminar in China.

China-Africa youth festivals

» The First China-Africa Youth Festival (August 23-31, 2004)

A total of 132 African youth delegates from 44 member countries of FOCAC, and some youth representatives from all walks of life in China attended the festival. The festival included a youth cooperation forum, the signing of a Beijing declaration of the forum, a dialogue between Chinese and African youth leaders and some exchange activities of young entrepreneurs. The African delegates also visited the cities of Beijing and Guangzhou (Guangdong Province), and Hubei and Henan provinces.

» The Second China-Africa Youth Festival (August 15-22, 2006)

A total of 60 African youth entrepreneurs from 30 African countries attended the festival. The festival included some exchange activities of Sino-African young entrepreneurs and the signing of a memorandum of understanding of the second festival. The African delegates visited Beijing and Dalian.

» The Third China-Africa Youth Festival (August 13-21, 2009)

A group of 177 youth representatives from 48 African countries and the AU Commission attended the third festival in Beijing. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao attended the opening ceremony of the festival and a farewell ceremony for young Chinese volunteers departing for Africa, at which he presented them with a flag. The African representatives, separated into two groups, visited Jilin and Liaoning provinces in northeast China respectively.

China-African future youth exchange plan

» Mechanism of collective dialogue between China-African youth will be strengthened.

» The seminar for youth leaders from major African political parties will continue to be held.

» More young Chinese volunteers will be encouraged to serve African people and share their knowledge and skills.