By: James Kamara-Manneh
China has once again reaffirmed Africa’s central place in its foreign policy as H.E. Wang Yi, Member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, concluded his first overseas trip of the year to Africa. The visit marked the 36th consecutive year that a Chinese foreign minister has chosen Africa as the starting point of China’s annual diplomatic engagements an enduring tradition Beijing says reflects deep friendship, strategic trust, and long-term commitment to the continent.
Speaking after the visit, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning said the Africa-first diplomatic practice embodies China’s consistent approach of sincerity, equality, and mutual respect in its relations with African countries. She noted that while some portray Africa as a “forgotten continent,” China sees Africa as a continent of hope, opportunity, and shared future, and continues to prioritize it in its global diplomatic outreach.
According to Mao Ning, Foreign Minister Wang Yi provided a comprehensive account of the visit’s outcomes during an interview with Chinese media, stressing that China–Africa relations are guided by the principle of “sincerity, real results, amity, and good faith,” proposed by President Xi Jinping. These values, she said, remain the defining features of China–Africa cooperation.
“Africa and China are good partners who can rely on and trust each other,” she emphasized.
During his engagements with African leaders, Wang Yi elaborated on the recommendations for formulating China’s 15th Five-Year Plan, adopted at the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee. He explained that the plan not only charts China’s future development path but also creates new opportunities for Africa and other developing countries.
Wang Yi reaffirmed China’s role as a major engine of global economic growth and expressed China’s readiness to serve as a catalyst for Africa’s development and revitalization. He noted that the concept most frequently raised by African partners during the visit was zero-tariff treatment, describing it as a defining feature of China–Africa cooperation in the new era.
China’s zero-tariff initiative, he said, represents a concrete step toward expanding unilateral opening-up, demonstrating China’s willingness to assume greater international responsibilities and promote high-standard openness. Through this policy, China’s vast market is expected to become a genuine opportunity for African economies. Wang Yi invited African countries to “board the express train of China’s development” and jointly pursue shared modernization.
A major highlight of the visit was the 9th China–African Union Strategic Dialogue, held on 8 January 2026 at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa. The dialogue was co-chaired by H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, and H.E. Wang Yi. On the same occasion, both leaders jointly attended the opening ceremony of the 2026 China–Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges, underscoring renewed emphasis on social, cultural, and human connectivity.
The two sides exchanged views on a wide range of issues, including China–Africa cooperation on modernization, global governance, zero-tariff treatment, the proposed International Organization for Mediation, and the Outlook on Peace and Development in the Horn of Africa.
Both sides noted that China and the African Union, as key members of the Global South, share broad consensus on major international and regional issues. They reaffirmed the importance of safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries and pledged continued mutual support on core interests and major concerns.
China and the African Union also reiterated the importance of upholding a global order based on international law, including respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and the peaceful settlement of disputes. In this context, both sides expressed concern over recent developments in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and reaffirmed the need to uphold the principles of the Charter of the United Nations.
The African Union reaffirmed its firm commitment to the One-China principle, recognizing that there is only one China in the world, that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory, and that the Government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legitimate government representing the whole of China. The AU further expressed support for all efforts by the Chinese government to achieve national reunification.
The dialogue also focused on aligning China’s 15th Five-Year Plan with the African Union’s Second Ten-Year Implementation Plan of Agenda 2063, as well as commitments under the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). Both sides agreed to strengthen coordination and mutual support in their respective flagship initiatives.
On the African side, these include Agenda 2063 and its key projects, notably Silencing the Guns by 2030 and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). On the Chinese side, they include the Global Security Initiative, the Global Governance Initiative, and the proposed International Organization for Mediation.
Reaffirming their commitment to tangible outcomes, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission and the Chinese Foreign Minister pledged to ensure the effective implementation of all signed cooperation agreements and memoranda of understanding. They also agreed to further explore the full potential of practical cooperation between China and the African Union to deliver lasting benefits to the peoples of Africa and China.
Observers say the visit further consolidates the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Africa, reinforcing a shared vision of modernization, peace, development, and South–South solidarity in a rapidly evolving global landscape.