Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi begins a six-nation diplomatic mission across Africa this week, starting with Ethiopia on January 7 as part of Beijing's 36-year tradition of prioritizing African relations. The tour comes as China and Africa celebrate seven decades of formal diplomatic cooperation in 2026.
Wang, who also serves on the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, will visit Somalia, Tanzania, and Lesotho before attending the launch of the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges at African Union headquarters. The initiative aims to strengthen cultural understanding through educational and artistic collaborations.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning emphasized the strategic importance of these partnerships during Wednesday's announcement: "This visit continues our commitment to building an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future. We're working to implement key agreements from the Beijing Summit while enhancing political trust through face-to-face dialogue."
The timing coincides with the 70th anniversary of China-Africa diplomatic relations, with recent trade figures showing bilateral exchanges exceeding $300 billion annually. Analysts suggest the tour could pave the way for new infrastructure partnerships and technology transfer agreements in renewable energy sectors.
