Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will embark on a diplomatic tour of Africa from January 5 to 11, visiting Nigeria, Namibia, the Republic of the Congo, and Chad. This marks the 35th consecutive year that China’s foreign minister has chosen Africa as the destination for their first overseas trip of the year, underscoring the importance of Sino-African relations.
According to Mao Ning, spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry, Wang Yi’s visit highlights the priority China places on its partnerships with African nations. The tour is at the invitation of the host countries and reinforces China’s long-standing tradition of strengthening ties with Africa.
At the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) last year, Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed upgrading relations with African nations to strategic levels and establishing an “all-weather community with a shared future.” This vision aims to advance modernization across six key sectors, including trade, industrialization, and infrastructure development, while fostering people-to-people exchanges.
To implement this vision, China has introduced 10 partnership actions, which include initiatives like a governance experience-sharing platform, a China-Africa knowledge network, and 25 centers for China-Africa studies. These efforts are designed to deepen collaboration and mutual understanding.
The African side has responded positively to these proposals, signaling a shared commitment to strengthening cooperation. Wang Yi’s visit not only symbolizes China’s enduring relationship with Africa but also sets the stage for advancing mutual goals in this new era of partnership.
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