Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has embarked on a significant tour of four African nations—Namibia, the Republic of the Congo, Chad, and Nigeria—from January 5 to 11. This visit underscores China’s ongoing commitment to deepening its partnership with Africa and promoting mutual growth. Maintaining a 35-year tradition since 1991, Wang Yi’s choice of Africa for his first overseas trip of the year highlights the importance China places on its relationship with the continent. The visit aims to facilitate the implementation of the outcomes of the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), deepen practical cooperation across various fields, and promote sustained development in China-Africa relations into 2025. China and Africa share a longstanding partnership rooted in a shared vision for the development and prosperity of the Global South. Both sides recognize the importance of collaboration in peace and security, economic integration, supply chain stability, and cross-continental prosperity. This history of cooperation forms the foundation for expanding diplomatic and strategic ties. In 2024, the Sino-African relationship witnessed significant achievements. China’s support for Africa’s pursuit of a modernization path suited to its national circumstances was unwavering. The adoption of the Beijing Action Plan (2025-2027) at the FOCAC Beijing Summit provided a robust framework for multilateral cooperation. Economic collaboration under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) flourished, accompanied by strong high-level exchanges, trade growth, and climate cooperation initiatives. As Africa’s top commercial partner for 15 consecutive years, China has fostered fruitful collaborations in technology transfer, talent development, and capacity building across various industries, including manufacturing, logistics, infrastructure, medicine, the digital economy, and agriculture. Looking ahead to 2025, Wang Yi’s visit signals a promising future for China-Africa relations. With highly complementary economies, both sides are poised to address common challenges and pursue shared growth. Africa’s strategic pursuit of the United Nations’ 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and its modernization drive are expected to enhance cooperation, with win-win partnerships and multilateral frameworks playing crucial roles. Energy partnerships, particularly in green technology and renewable energy, along with trade diversification and agricultural modernization, are seen as key areas for deepening economic cooperation. China’s advancements in new energy, environmental development, and technology align well with Africa’s economic needs. Chinese green and tech products, known for their quality and affordability, have found a receptive market in Africa, further strengthening the ties between the two regions.
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Wang Yi's visit highlights China's support for Africa's growth
cgtn.com
