[Video/chinadaily.com.cn]

The 2026 China-Africa Friendship Tour – Shandong Meets Africa Cultural Gala opened in Jinan, Shandong province, on Aug 4. Guests from 23 African countries, including Angola, Somalia, Madagascar and Cote d'Ivoire, gathered to celebrate friendship and strengthen ties.

Ten Major Shandong-Africa Cultural Cooperation Programs were unveiled at the opening ceremony, spanning cultural exhibitions, archaeological research, youth exchanges, costume culture and vocational education, while further promoting cultural exchanges between Shandong and African countries. 

As one of the flagship events of the 2026 China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges, the event is hosted by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and the Shandong Provincial People's Government under the theme "Beauty and Harmony Across Shores and Seas".