On January 8, 2026, the launching ceremony of the 2026 China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges was held at the African Union (AU) headquarters in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia. At the ceremony, Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese foreign minister; Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, AU Commission Chairperson; Taye Atske Selassie, President of Ethiopia; and Jean-Claude Gakosso, foreign minister of the Republic of the Congo, the African co-chair of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), jointly unveiled the official logo for the 2026 China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges. Lu Xiangdong, Vice President of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), led a delegation to the launching ceremony.

The logo for the 2026 China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges features a circular design, symbolizing a global vision. At the top, the Arabic numerals "70" are presented in colorful patterns, representing the 70-year journey of China-Africa relations. The numeral "0" is shaped like an open door, symbolizing a new chapter in China-Africa relations. At the bottom, two clasped hands highlight the close and fraternal bond between China and Africa.

The 2026 China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges is an important initiative jointly announced by President Xi Jinping and African leaders at the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. The CPAFFC is taking the lead in advancing the related work. From October to November 2025, the CPAFFC held a logo design competition for the 2026 Year of People-to-People Exchanges, inviting submissions from across China and Africa. The competition received an enthusiastic response from the Chinese and African public, with several hundred logo designs submitted.