African diplomats, their children, and Chinese teachers and students all enjoyed a friendly soccer match, that both sides believe will deepen China-Africa cooperation by forging connections among the next generation.

Co-hosted by China Foreign Affairs University, the Beijing People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Sports, the match was held at the Beijing No 12 High School on Saturday, following the conclusion of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).

About 200 participants, including diplomats from 22 African countries and their children, gathered for an afternoon of sports and cultural exchanges. The match was divided into two categories based on age: the youth group, featuring children of African diplomats and students of Beijing No 12 High School, and the adult group, with African diplomats and African students studying in China competing against teachers from the school.

Kouakou Koffi Lambert, leader of the African Dream Team, a group that attended the soccer match, noted the power of soccer to foster connections. "Football is a collective sport that allows us to meet and get to know each other," he said.

The African Dream Team began its journey around China in 1996.Abdoul Kadir, who is in charge of consular affairs at the Cameroonian embassy to China, and a member of the African Dream Team, added that soccer helps strengthen cooperation not only between African countries, but also with their Chinese counterparts.

Qiu Xianming, a counselor in the Department of African Affairs at China's Foreign Ministry, said that the youth is important in shaping the future of China-Africa relations, and sports and cultural exchanges help bring the people of both regions closer together.

Ehui Brou Bernard, a PhD student from Cote d'Ivoire at Beihang University who participated in the adult group at the soccer match, said they have a school team, and that he plays soccer with his Chinese friends a lot.

Zhou Qingjie, a professor at China Foreign Affairs University, stressed the need for more sporting exchanges between schools in China and Africa to enhance both cooperation and the quality of sports education.

Zhang Xijun, a freshman from Capital University of Physical Education and Sports, who also participated in the adult match, said the experience with foreign players encouraged him to exercise more, and he looked forward to more opportunities to engage with his international peers.

Arnaud Pambou, the cultural counselor of the Gabonese embassy to China, said the match was more about the process than the result, with both teams well-prepared for the day.

Besides the match, African and Chinese youths also collaborated on a scroll painting. Antonio Serifo Embalo, ambassador of Guinea-Bissau to China, said these activities helped deepen communication and understanding between the youth of both regions, paving the way for further exchanges and cooperation.

They won't have to wait long. During the Beijing Summit of FOCAC, 2026 has been designated as "the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges".

Lu Tianyue contributed to this story.