Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is set to visit Ethiopia, Somalia, Tanzania, and Lesotho from January 7 to 12, marking the 36th consecutive year that Africa has been the first overseas destination for a Chinese foreign minister. The trip underscores Beijing's enduring diplomatic focus on strengthening ties with the continent amid evolving global dynamics.
During the tour, Wang, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, will attend the launch ceremony for the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges at the African Union Headquarters. Analysts suggest the initiative aims to deepen cultural understanding and bolster cooperation frameworks established through forums like the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).
This year's itinerary reflects China's strategic interests in regional security partnerships and infrastructure development, particularly in Somalia's post-conflict reconstruction and Tanzania's port modernization projects. The visit to landlocked Lesotho highlights efforts to expand engagement with smaller economies through agricultural and technological collaboration.
