Mozambique President Daniel Chapo Meets Chinese President Xi Jinping as First African Leader in 2026 Summit

Mozambique President Daniel Chapo became the first African head of state to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2026 during a state visit to Beijing on April 21, 2026. The talks took place at the Great Hall of the People, where both leaders agreed to elevate bilateral relations to the level of a China-Mozambique community with a shared future in the new era.

President Xi Jinping emphasized that the traditional friendship between China and Mozambique has endured through history and across mountains and seas, serving as a model of China-Africa friendship and South-South cooperation since the establishment of diplomatic relations. He stated that deepening friendly cooperation meets the shared expectations of both peoples and aligns with the growing solidarity among Global South countries facing common challenges.

President Chapo expressed that it was a great pleasure to be the first African leader to visit China in 2026 and praised the longstanding friendship between the two nations. He affirmed Mozambique’s commitment to strengthening practical cooperation and mutual support with China.

Both sides agreed to enhance exchanges at all levels — including government, political parties, legislative bodies, and sub-national authorities — and to strengthen experience sharing in party and state governance. President Xi highlighted the strong economic complementarity between the two countries as a foundation for broad prospects in cooperation.

China pledged to work with Mozambique in implementing the outcomes of the FOCAC Beijing Summit and leveraging the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges (2026) to advance shared modernization goals. The talks occurred at the beginning of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan period.