China, Lesotho Mark Launch of People-to-People Exchange Year 

Maseru- Chinese Embassy The China–Africa People-to-People Exchange Year was officially launched here in Lesotho on Thursday evening at the Chinese Embassy in Maseru, marking a new phase in cultural, educational and social cooperation between China, Lesotho and the African continent at large. Delivering remarks at the reception, Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Lesotho, Lu Hui, described people-to-people engagement as the foundation of strong state relations, emphasizing that China–Africa cooperation is increasingly centered on ordinary citizens, cultural interaction and youth development. The designation of 2026 as the China–Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges was jointly agreed at the 2024 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation, with the continental launch having taken place earlier this year at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa. Lu said the Maseru reception represented the translation of that continental consensus into national action, aimed at deepening mutual learning, strengthening traditional friendship and expanding exchanges, particularly among young people. He noted that in 2026 alone, nearly 600 exchange activities will be held across sectors such as education, culture, tourism, media, youth development and...