Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi embarked on a four-nation African tour this week, marking the 35th consecutive year that China's top diplomat has chosen Africa for their first overseas visit of the year. The 2026 itinerary – covering Ethiopia, Somalia, Tanzania, and Lesotho – signals Beijing's commitment to deepening multilateral coordination and grassroots connections across the continent.
Strengthening Continental Partnerships
The tour's centerpiece was the launch of the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa. This initiative aims to systematize cultural, educational, and professional collaboration through programs like youth dialogues, vocational training workshops, and joint public health projects. Over 50,000 African students currently study in China annually, with numbers expected to grow through new scholarship programs.
Ethiopia: Expanding digital economy cooperation and AU coordination
Somalia: Supporting post-conflict reconstruction through FOCAC mechanisms
Tanzania: Building on 60+ years of partnership in industrialization
Lesotho: Enhancing renewable energy and public service projects
Aligning Modernization Visions
The diplomacy push comes as China seeks to align its high-quality development goals with Africa's Agenda 2063. Recent FOCAC agreements emphasize technology transfer in agriculture, green energy infrastructure, and digital connectivity – areas where Chinese enterprises have committed $4 billion in new investments this year.
Analysts note the timing reinforces China's role as a consistent partner amid global economic uncertainties. With over 3,000 Chinese medical personnel currently deployed across Africa and bilateral trade reaching $282 billion in 2025, the focus on societal connections aims to build enduring public support for South-South cooperation.
