Cultural Exchanges Within Sinoafrican Ties

For thousands of years, China and Africa have created colorful and unique cultures with writers, anthropologists, dancers, singers, sculptors and sports stars. The profound cultures from two sides have a strong appeal. But the platform to provide learning, exchanges and intellectual dialogue about the two cultures is limited.

• Publications
• 28 May, 2024

Over the years, China-Africa cultural exchanges have played a key role in promoting cooperation and friendship between China and Africa. In 1955, China and Egypt signed the Summary of Talks on Cultural Cooperation, the first cultural agreement between China and Africa. In the 1960s and 1970s, the Chinese Cultural and Art Ensemble visited Africa on many occasions, setting the pace for a new era in cultural relations.

Between 1997 and 2001, China received 28 ministerial-level cultural delegations from Africa and sent seven cultural delegations to 17 African countries, laying the foundation for cultural relations between the two civilizations. In 2007, at the 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in Beijing, then president Hu Jintao described enhancing cultural ties as part of Chinese soft power to better guarantee people’s basic cultural rights and interests. Since then, China has spared no effort in strengthening its cultural diplomacy.