Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi begins Africa tour
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has started his visit to African countries planning to visit Egypt, Tunisia, Togo, and Cote d'Ivoire from January 13-18.
Wang will visit these countries at the invitation of the leaders of those countries. He is expected to hold high-level political talks and follow up on the agreements reached at the China-Africa Leaders' Dialogue in August, as well as discuss areas expected to be considered at the 2024 China-Africa Cooperation Conference. This is the 34th consecutive year for the Chinese foreign minister to make the first New Year's visit to African countries. China's Foreign Ministry says this shows Beijing's determination to strengthen cooperation with the continent. Wang will then head to South America, planning to visit Brazil and Jamaica Kenya's new railway which has been built with the help of China. from January 18 to 22. The Chinese diplomat's visit to Africa is considered the first of its kind since he took office as foreign minister in July 2023. In July last year, a few days before he was appointed as foreign minister, Wang, then head of Foreign Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, visited Africa where he reached South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria. In the past decade, China has helped the African continent in the construction of railway lines with a length of more than six thousand kilometers, the construction of roads also with a length of six thousand kilometers, the construction of about 20 ports and more than 80 power plants. The level of trade between China and Africa has increased 20 times; and China's direct investment in African countries has increased 100 times. The presence of China in Africa is viewed by many as a threat to the imperialist powers led by the United States that have been looting the wealth of the continent since the colonial era until today.
