From January 5 to 11, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will visit the four African countries of Namibia, the Republic of the Congo, Chad and Nigeria.
The visit by Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, is aimed at deepening practical cooperation in various fields, and promoting the sustained and in-depth development of China-Africa relations, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Friday.
Wang’s visit continues the tradition of a Chinese foreign minister visiting Africa on the first overseas trip at the start of the year for 35 consecutive years.
Milestone in China-Africa ties
China-Africa relations continued to yield fruitful results in a volatile and intertwined international situation in 2024. One of the highlights was the the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Beijing Summit.
The year 2025 marks the 25th anniversary of the launch of the FOCAC. The Beijing Summit of the FOCAC held in September was the largest diplomatic event China has hosted in recent years, with the highest attendance of foreign leaders.
Nearly 6,000 Chinese and foreign guests, including leaders of 53 African countries having diplomatic relations with China, chairperson of the African Union Commission and the UN Secretary-General attended the summit.
Bilateral relations between China and all African countries having diplomatic ties with China were elevated to the level of strategic relations, and the overall characterization of China-Africa relations was elevated to an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era, marking a significant milestone in China-Africa relations.
During the summit, China proposed 10 partnership actions to be implemented over the next three years, underscoring its commitment to further deepening cooperation and friendship with Africa.
Detailing Wang’s upcoming Africa visit, Mao said it is aimed at promoting the implementation of the outcomes of the FOCAC Beijing Summit, and pushing the sustained and in-depth development of China-Africa relations.
Tangible China-Africa cooperation
Under the frameworks of the FOCAC and the Belt and Road Initiative, China and Africa have been working together over the past year to advance infrastructure development, with tangible results across the entire African continent.
For example, in Nigeria, the revitalized Abuja light rail built by Chinese enterprises has provided a much-needed reprieve from the city’s traffic congestion, serving as a beacon of hope amid the economic challenges faced by many in Nigeria’s capital.
China’s remarkable transformation over recent decades is “a source of inspiration and opportunity for Nigeria and Africa,” former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has said.
To support Africa in accelerating modernization, China has also launched plans and initiatives focusing on many key areas.
Effective from December 1, 2024, China gave all the least developed countries having diplomatic relations with China, including 33 African countries, zero-tariff treatment for 100 percent tariff lines, becoming the first large developing country and major economy to take such a significant measure.
On top of tariff exemptions, China has also established and expanded a “green channel” for African agricultural products to enter the Chinese market, and provided convenience for African companies to participate in large-scale exhibitions, helping African countries strengthen their trade capacity building.
Source: CGTN
