Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi shakes hands with African Union (AU) Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia, on January 8, 2026. Photo: Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs

When Africa seems once again to be "forgotten," China comes to the continent of hope and continues to make Africa the starting point of its annual diplomacy, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told media after concluding his Africa visit, continuing a 36-year tradition for Africa to be the destination of the Chinese foreign minister's first overseas trip of the year. 

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said that maintaining this diplomatic tradition for 36 consecutive years reflects the profound friendship of the Chinese people toward African people, as well as a commitment and spirit - When African brothers and sisters are in need, China will always be the first friend to stand by your side, according to a release from the Foreign Ministry on Tuesday.

The past year has been marked by global turbulence, with Africa facing particular challenges, Wang said, adding that when Africa was hit by the "tariff stick," China announced a "zero-tariff gift" for African countries. When some external forces lectured on and interfered in African affairs, China firmly supported Africa in safeguarding its sovereignty, security and national dignity.

Wang's Africa trip demonstrates China's consistent emphasis on China-Africa relations no matter how the international situation evolves, experts said, adding that after decades of sustained engagement, China-Africa relations have grown ever deeper. 

Diverse modernization

African media have also taken note of the visit. Ethiopia-based outlet The Reporter quoted analysts as observing that affinity among countries of the Global South is gaining momentum amid the uncertainty created by Washington's unpredictable foreign policy.

"Africa, China and the rest of the Global South aim for further alignment along economic, political, diplomatic and security agendas. This could help to outmaneuver the unfavorable new national interest reverberating from Washington," a veteran political analyst told The Reporter on condition of anonymity.

Following China's announcement of zero-tariff treatment for African exports in September 2024, Ecofin Agency, which specializes in the African economy, cited a report released in November 2025 by the African Export-Import Bank, which said that African countries can fully leverage the zero-tariff policy by developing regional value chains in high-potential sectors such as agricultural processing, light industry and mineral treatment, while strengthening infrastructure and trade corridors.

Ecofin Agency added that China's zero-tariff initiative stands in stark contrast to the protectionist trade policies of the US, offering an alternative to trade agreements concluded between African countries and Western powers.

On how China and Africa can accelerate modernization, Wang said that world civilizations are diverse and there is no single template or paradigm for modernization. China's own path has provided useful reference and new options for developing countries. 

Modernization does not equate to Westernization, and Westernization does not necessarily lead to modernization, he stressed, noting that the key lies in finding a development path suited to national conditions and supported by the people. Only when China and Africa advance toward modernization together can the world realize modernization, Wang said.

It is the opportune time for China and the African Union (AU) to enhance strategic mutual trust and deepen strategic cooperation. He noted that China and the AU, as the largest developing country and the continental body with the largest number of developing countries respectively, should work together to address current challenges, not only to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of China and Africa, but also to contribute their respective part to world peace and development, according to Xinhua.

China's support for Africa in exploring development models suited to its own conditions has broken the Western-dominated development narratives, Song Wei, a professor at the School of International Relations and Diplomacy at Beijing Foreign Studies University, told the Global Times on Tuesday. 

Due to structural geopolitical disadvantages, the Global South's discourse power in development has long been marginalized, and China-Africa cooperation has demonstrated an alternative different from Western-led narratives, Song said.

When asked how African countries view China's development prospects and how Africa can benefit, Wang said he introduced the recommendations for formulating China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) adopted at the fourth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee to African partners. He emphasized that the plan not only charts China's future development but also constitutes an "opportunity list" for countries around the world, including those in Africa. 

Li Haidong, a professor at China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times on Tuesday that 2026 marks the first year of China's 15th Five-Year Plan, and China's development is not inward-looking but coordinated with the development of other countries. In managing relations with Africa, China consistently aligns its own development with that of African nations to foster an open, mutually beneficial and cooperative framework, Li said.

Commenting on the fact that the countries Wang visited and the AU issued joint documents reaffirming adherence to the one-China principle, Wang said both China and Africa have suffered from colonial exploitation and hegemonic oppression and thus deeply understand the value of sovereignty and dignity. China's complete reunification is the will of the people and the trend of our time, Wang said, warning that any attempt by any external force to interfere in the Taiwan question and China's internal affairs is doomed to fail.

The collective support of African countries for the one-China principle reflects the high level of strategic and political mutual trust between China and Africa, the expert said, adding that in advancing global governance reform, the two sides need each other, and only through China-Africa cooperation can a broader consensus be built within the Global South to promote a more just and democratic global governance system.

Against bullying

Wang criticized "neoliberalism" as being on the verge of bankruptcy in Africa and said that "neo-colonialism" will find no market on the continent, stressing that all forms of oppression and bullying will be expelled from Africa never to return.

Referring to Lesotho, Wang said that when some questioned whether people even knew where the country was, China visited Lesotho to tell the world that Lesotho is right here, its people are living well, and they have China as a strategic partner.

Previously, US President in March said "Eight million dollars to promote LGBTQI+ in the African nation of Lesotho, which nobody has ever heard of," remarks that the BBC reported in March 2025 as "eliciting laughter from some US lawmakers." Lesotho's Foreign Affairs Minister Lejone Mpotjoane said it was "shocking" to hear a head of state "refer to another sovereign state in that manner," according to the BBC. 

Some countries do not respect Africa or value relations with African states, and arbitrarily humiliate and infringe upon the sovereignty and territorial integrity of smaller nations, Li said. In contrast, China-Africa relations uphold the basic principles of international relations, international law and the UN-centered international system, and China's engagement with Africa is closely linked to safeguarding these norms, he added.

On Tuesday, when asked to comment on Wang's Africa visit, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said some people say that Africa is the "forgotten" continent. But China views Africa as a continent full of hope and takes Africa as the starting point of China's diplomatic effort every year. 

China's huge market will truly become a great opportunity for Africa. We welcome African countries to board on the express train of China's development and work together to achieve modernization, Mao added.