By Dr. Austin Maho
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit to Ethiopia, Somalia, Tanzania, and Lesotho from January 7th to 12th, 2026, marks the 36th consecutive year Africa has been the first overseas destination for China’s top diplomat. This visit underscores China’s commitment to strengthening ties with Africa and expanding cooperation.
Strategic Significance of the visits.
As a leader of the Global South, China’s engagement with Africa is a key part of its broader strategy to promote South-South cooperation and strengthen ties with Africa. China sees itself as a leader and partner of the Global South, advocating for multipolarity, South-South Cooperation and strengthening economic ties. Furthermore, Africa holds significant strategic importance to China due to its rich natural resources, youthful population, critical trade routes, and huge market potential.
China is Africa’s largest trading partner, with trade volumes exceeding $300 billion in 2025. China’s investments in Africa’s infrastructure, energy, and resources make stability in the region essential for China’s economic interests. China has increased its security engagement in Africa, including military cooperation and peacekeeping efforts. Africa’s support is also crucial for China’s ambitions to reshape global governance institutions and promote its vision for a rule based international order anchored on the United Nations.
The world today is in danger as a result of the unilateral actions of some powerful nations that have abandoned a rule based global order. The United States only recently abandoned the United Nations taking unilateral actions that makes nonsense of the concept of sovereignty, the very foundation of the UN, which ironically it helped create.
As the world grapple with a dysfunctional global system China has prioritized the concept of a shared future for mankind. A vision for a more equitable, inclusive, and cooperative global order. At its core is mutual respect, win-win cooperation, and collective progress among nations and respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, and development paths as it suits the natural and cultural conditions of all countries.
China presents this concept as an alternative to Western-centric models, emphasizing cooperation over competition and mutual benefit over unilateralism. It’s a core part of China’s global vision and diplomacy, reflected in initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative and the Forum Of China Africa Cooperation ( FOCAC) among others. Africa is of strategic importance to China in the promotion of these lofty ideas for global leave and prosperity.
Wang Yi’s itinerary.
Wang Yi’s itinerary includes stops in Ethiopia, Somalia, Tanzania, and Lesotho, countries with significant economic and strategic value. Ethiopia, Africa’s fastest-growing economy, offers opportunities for Chinese investment in manufacturing and infrastructure. Somalia’s location along the Gulf of Aden makes it crucial for China’s maritime security and trade interests. Tanzania, with its vast copper deposits, is key to China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Lesotho, meanwhile, is regarded as a champion of free trade, in the continent offering tariff-free access to its market. The visit by Wang Yi to these African Nations would further Promote cooperation and strengthen ties between China mad Africa.
China-Africa cooperation has yielded significant results, with China becoming Africa’s largest trading partner for 15 consecutive years. In 2024, China pledged $50 billion in funding for African projects, focusing on infrastructure, agriculture, and industry. The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), established in 2000, has been instrumental in promoting China-Africa ties.
The visit of Wang Yi is an opportunity to further deepen cooperation and advance the FOCAC Beijing Action Plan (2025-2027) especially in key areas of infrastructure development, trade and investment, security cooperation, people-to-people exchanges.
It is important to note that China declared 2026 as the “China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges” to strengthen cultural, educational, and people-to-people ties with Africa. This initiative aims to promote mutual understanding, respect, and cooperation between China and Africa, building on long-standing diplomatic relations.
The year 2026 also marks the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Africa, making it a significant milestone in China Africa relationship. The initiative is expected to boost tourism, cultural exchange, and economic cooperation between China and Africa. President Xi Jinping emphasized the importance of people-to-people exchanges in advancing China-Africa modernization and building a community with a shared future for humanity.
To underscore the importance of this initiative, Wang Yi attended the launching ceremony of the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges at the African Union (AU) headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Wang Yi’s visit underscores China’s commitment to Africa’s development and its desire to strengthen ties with the continent. The visit also highlights China’s focus on people-to-people exchanges and cultural cooperation, as well as its support for Africa’s sovereignty and territorial integrity in a world increasingly becoming more uncertain by the saber rattling of Washinton hulks who want to take hegemony and dominance to new heights.
– *Sustainable Development*: Prioritizing environmentally friendly and socially responsible investments
– *Transparency and Accountability*: Ensuring transparent and accountable management of Chinese investments
– *African Agency*: Empowering African countries to take ownership of their development agendas
Implication for Nigeria
The visit of Wang Yi to Africa offers Nigeria the opportunity to refocus and assert its leadership position as a major country in the continent.
It should be recalled that China and Nigeria upgraded their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership, in 2025, marking a new leap in bilateral ties. This upgrade must be followed by concrete action from both sides. The first plenary session of the China-Nigeria Intergovernmental Committee was convened in 2025, enhancing bilateral cooperation and synergizing critical development goals. These goals must translate into concrete achievement for the people.of Nigeria.
China and Nigeria must also work towards strengthening cooperation in critical areas such as solid minerals, exploration and emerging fieldss in AI and green energy. China together with Nigeria as a major country in Africa must work together and reaffirmed their commitment to advancing the collective rise and development of the Global South.
The $2 billion currency swap agreement between Nigeria and China, with Nigeria seeking to boost infrastructure development and deepen strategic ties should be expanded to give the Nigerian economy the much needed fillip as it faces economic challenges as a result of currency devaluation.
To enhance cooperation, between Nihrria and there is the.need to focus on
Balue addition, by Promoting local processing and manufacturing. Nigeria cannot remain a primary source of raw materials. Manufacturing and value addition to primary product is the way.to go to uplifting the living standards and economy of not just Nigeria but African countries.
By addressing these challenges China and Africa not just Nigeria can strengthen their partnership, promote mutual benefit, and contribute to global development and peace. The horizon is bright. Wang Yi’s visit, the 36th consecutive year Africa has been the first overseas destination for China’s top diplomat signifies the unbreakable brotherhood between China Africa
