From Addis Ababa to Maseru: China Signals Deeper Africa Engagement with Wang Yi’s Four-Nation Visit

China has once again placed Africa at the center of its global diplomacy. Wang Yi, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs, is set to visit Ethiopia, Somalia, Tanzania, and Lesotho from January 7 to 12, 2026, marking the 36th consecutive year that Africa has been the destination of China’s foreign minister’s first overseas trip of the year.

The visit will also see Wang Yi attend the launching ceremony of the China–Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa, adding both symbolic and practical weight to the tour.