China’s Foreign Minister, Mr. Wang Yi, is to begin an official visit to Ethiopia, Somalia, Tanzania, and Lesotho, marking the 36th consecutive year Africa has remained the first overseas destination of China’s foreign minister at the start of the year.
According to a statement by the Chinese Embassy, the visit, will run until January 12.
It described the visit as a continuation of China’s long-standing diplomatic tradition with the African continent.
Mr. Wang, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, is expected to attend the launch of the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa.
According to the statement, the annual Africa-first visit underscores the “priority and stability” of Africa in China’s foreign policy, despite shifting global dynamics.
Foreign affairs analysts, a professor of International Relations and Diplomacy at Beijing Foreign Studies University, Song Wei, said the visit reflects a partnership built around development rather than security competition.
“The year-beginning visit is aimed at coordinating development priorities, implementing outcomes of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, and setting the direction for bilateral cooperation, rather than engaging in great-power rivalry,” Song said.
He noted that Ethiopia’s inclusion reflects its strategic role as a regional hub and host of the African Union, while Wang’s participation in the people-to-people exchange initiative signals a broadening of cooperation beyond trade and infrastructure.
On Somalia, Song said China’s approach focuses on development as a pathway to long-term stability.
“Unlike security-centered Western approaches, China believes sustainable development can address the root causes of insecurity,” he added.
Tanzania, the expert said, represents the historical foundation of China-Africa friendship, while the visit to Lesotho underscores China’s emphasis on inclusiveness and engagement with smaller African nations.
The visit comes amid growing China-Africa economic ties. Official data show that China-Africa trade reached nearly 296 billion dollars in 2024, with trade volume exceeding 314 billion dollars in the first 11 months of 2025, surpassing the 300-billion-dollar mark for the first time.
Since the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Beijing Summit, China has increased investment in Africa by more than 13 billion yuan, with total financial support exceeding 150 billion, targeting key sectors such as infrastructure, energy, agriculture, industry, and digital technology.
A Senegalese journalist and China-Africa relations expert, Amadou Diop, said the next phase of cooperation will place stronger emphasis on cultural and people-to-people exchanges.
“By strengthening youth and cultural engagement alongside economic cooperation, China and Africa are opening a more inclusive chapter capable of addressing future challenges,” Diop said.
During his New Year visit last year, Wang toured Namibia, the Republic of the Congo, Chad, and Nigeria, reaffirming China’s commitment to building what he described as an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future.
“Regardless of changes in the international or regional landscape, China’s commitment to Africa remains unwavering,” Wang said during the trip.
