In brief
Over a hundred short‑film entries showcased the bond between China and Mozambique in a competition organized by the Confucius Institute and the Chinese Embassy. Winners received invitations to China for cultural exchange, underscoring the 2026 China‑Africa Year of People‑to‑People Exchanges. At the award ceremony, the Chinese ambassador and university rector highlighted the role of youth and creativity in forging lasting ties.
In Maputo, Mozambique, the capital city staged an award ceremony on Monday to honor a short‑video competition that celebrated the enduring friendship between China and Mozambique amid the 2026 China‑Africa Year of People‑to‑People Exchanges.
The contest, themed United Hearts, Shared Dreams: China and Mozambique, was organized by the Confucius Institute at Eduardo Mondlane University with support from the Chinese Embassy in Mozambique, and drew more than 100 submissions from students, journalists, businesspeople and local employees of Chinese enterprises.
Entrants highlighted China‑Mozambique cooperation, from the Maputo‑Katembe Bridge and the Mozambique‑China Cultural Center to personal stories of learning Chinese and daily interactions across the two cultures. The spectrum of stories illustrated collaboration in infrastructure, education, and cultural ties.
Chinese Ambassador to Mozambique Zheng Xuan spoke at the ceremony and praised participants for using their cameras as bridges of understanding. He said:
"Each video, each moment, represents an encounter between civilizations and a communication between hearts,"and urged the participants to become ambassadors of friendship, sharing stories that go beyond politics into everyday life.
Eduardo Mondlane University rector Manuel Guilherme Junior welcomed the contestants and noted the videos’ power to transform official government friendship into friendships between ordinary people. He added:
"With your creativity, you fought against a lack of understanding. You have transformed the official friendship between governments into a friendship between peoples,"
The competition’s winners—ten first‑prize teams—were invited to China for an exchange visit that covered Beijing, Zhejiang Province and Shanghai. During their stay, participants toured the Palace Museum in Beijing, the Yiwu International Trade Market in Zhejiang and the Bund in Shanghai, gaining firsthand insight into China’s development and cultural heritage.
Venheque Hassane Ali, a member of the exchange delegation, later shared his experiences, noting how the visits deepened the sense of shared aspirations and mutual respect. The whole event underscored the role of young visionaries in strengthening people‑to‑people ties between the nations.
China and Mozambique celebrate a friendship grounded in partnership and shared dreams, with storytelling and exchange programs continuing to build bridges for future generations.
