"Cultural exchange builds trust and fosters long-term solidarity that transcends trade and politics," Munyaradzi Chatikobo said. "It anchors China-Africa relations in shared human values."

JOHANNESBURG, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Cultural cooperation between China and African countries, including academic exchanges, language programs and artistic collaboration, is playing an increasingly vital role in strengthening bilateral relations, a South African scholar at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) has said.

In an interview with Xinhua, Munyaradzi Chatikobo, chair of community engagement and a lecturer at the Wits School of Arts, said that such initiatives foster lasting people-to-people connections and promote cultural literacy essential for sustainable international cooperation.

"Art is a universal language," Chatikobo said, noting that creative engagement enables a deeper appreciation of Chinese culture even without language proficiency. These interactions, he added, have been instrumental in forging "durable soft power links" between the two sides.

Chatikobo identified universities and research institutions as key drivers of such exchanges, citing partnerships between China's Peking University and South Africa's Wits as pivotal in dismantling stereotypes and fostering collaborative knowledge production.

Students participating in exchange programs during the 2024-2025 academic year described their experiences as "transformative." However, Chatikobo noted that while these initiatives have significantly enhanced intercultural competence, access remains uneven and should be expanded to reach more people.

China's growing investment in scholarships, cultural institutes, and educational frameworks across Africa has also yielded significant results, particularly in the cultural and creative industries. Chatikobo believes these efforts are helping to "humanize" diplomatic relations, mitigate misunderstandings, and strengthen public support for broader economic and political initiatives.

To maximize the benefits, Chatikobo called for increased student mobility, jointly developed research projects, digital collaboration platforms and more equitable funding to expand participation among young people and researchers.

Looking ahead, Chatikobo identified heritage conservation, digital culture, community-based tourism and climate-linked cultural knowledge as emerging frontiers for cooperation.

Reflecting on a decade of engagement in China-Africa relations, Chatikobo underscored that the true value of these ties lies in their longevity.

"Cultural exchange builds trust and fosters long-term solidarity that transcends trade and politics," he concluded. "It anchors China-Africa relations in shared human values."