On October 14, the Logo Design Contest for 2026 China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges (hereinafter referred to as the Year) was launched in Beijing.
The event was attended by Lu Xiangdong, Vice President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC); Martin Mpana, Dean of the African Diplomatic Corps in China and Ambassador of Cameroon to China; Li Qi, Counselor of the Department of African Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and Ding Ning, former Vice Dean of the School of Arts at Peking University and representative of the Chinese judging panel. Moses Serunkuma, Ugandan designer and representative of the African judging panel, delivered a video address.
Also present were Xu Ciming, Secretary-General of the China Friendship Foundation for Peace and Development; Yan Ying, Vice President of the China International Communications Group Center for Europe and Africa; African diplomats in China; and representatives from the cultural, media, and youth communities of China and Africa.
Lu Xiangdong delivers a speech at the launch ceremony
Lu Xiangdong stated that, in a time of unprecedented global change, the decision by Chinese and African leaders to designate 2026 as the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges demonstrates the high level of consensus between the two sides to build a China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era, injecting certainty and positive energy into a turbulent world.
Lu emphasized that a logo embodies the core concept of a major event. The goal of this contest is to collect design proposals that can vividly interpret the theme of the Year, reflect the spirit of China-Africa friendship and cooperation, and achieve a high level of artistic excellence, thereby conveying the deep meaning and contemporary value of the Year.
Lu called on designers, design institutions, art school teachers and students, and design enthusiasts from all African and Chinese communities to actively participate and contribute their creativity to create the most striking visual symbol of the Year.
Martin Mpana delivers a speech at the launch ceremony
Martin Mpana said that, designating as an important consensus reached by Chinese and African leaders at the 2024 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, the holding of the Year reflects the people-centered nature of China-Africa relations.
Mpana expressed hope that more artists would take part, using creativity to promote mutual learning between civilizations and to jointly build a China-Africa community with a shared future.
Li Qi delivers a speech at the launch ceremony
Li Qi noted that people-to-people exchange has become a major pillar of China-Africa cooperation. In recent years, cooperation between the two sides in areas such as culture, tourism, think tanks, and media has been active and fruitful.
Li explained that 2026 coincides with the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Africa, and both sides are actively preparing a series of celebratory events under the theme “Consolidate All-Weather Friendship, Pursue Shared Dream of Modernization.”
Li said that this logo design contest serves as the prelude to the Year, and expressed her expectation that people from all sectors in both China and Africa would participate enthusiastically and contribute to its success.
Ding Ning delivers a speech at the launch ceremony
Ding Ning said that this contest is not only a competition of creative design, but also a profound cultural exchange experience.
Ding emphasized that Africa is a land rich in unique cultural heritage, and that African artists have great international influence, distinct individuality, and a strong desire to communicate deeply with Chinese artists.
He said he looks forward to seeing outstanding works emerge from this meaningful competition.
In his video address, Moses Serunkuma stated that the contest is not just a platform for showcasing creativity, but also a symbol of deepening friendship between China and Africa.
Serunkuma said he looked forward to seeing works that reflect cultural richness, mutual respect, and shared aspirations.
Yan Ying moderates the launch ceremony
When moderating the ceremony, Yan Ying explained that the contest aims to create a visual symbol that embodies the essence of China-Africa people-to-people exchanges while combining distinctiveness, artistry, inclusiveness, and practicality.
Through this logo, Yan said, the unique charm of China-Africa people-to-people exchange can be better presented to the world, showcasing the deep friendship and close cooperation between the two sides.
Youth representatives in Beijing also attended the ceremony. College student Ni Bowen expressed his hope that the 2026 China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges will include more programs that appeal to young people and integrate deeper cultural elements from both China and Africa, thereby promoting mutual understanding and emotional resonance among young people from both sides.
Lin Zhixian, another youth representative, stated that the long-standing China-Africa friendship should be carried forward by the younger generation, who should consciously take on the responsibility of advancing China-Africa relations and embody the spirit of friendship and cooperation.
Official launch of the contest
During the ceremony, an official promotional video for the contest was released, and it was announced that a dedicated submission webpage would soon be available to the public.
According to the organizers, the entry submission period will run from October to November 2025.
The contest will include one grand-prize winner and ten finalists, to be selected jointly by Chinese and African judges in December 2025.
The winning design will become the official logo for the 2026 China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges and will be used across all related activities.
Photos by Dong Ning
