Wang Yi's visit solidifies China's commitment to Africa

Chinese foreign minister's visit to Africa at the start of the year highlighted China's commitment to solidify China-Africa relations and broader South-South cooperation at a time of profound global uncertainties, African analysts said.

Wang Yi's visit to the African Union headquarters, Ethiopia, Tanzania and Lesotho, which ended earlier this week, marked the 36th consecutive year for Chinese foreign ministers to choose Africa as the destination of their first overseas visit of the year.

Al-Sawy Al-Sawy Ahmed, former dean of the Faculty of Arts at Suez Canal University in Egypt, said Wang's visit to Africa represents a high-level initiative encompassing political, diplomatic, and economic facets.

"The tour reflects Beijing's commitment to strengthening partnerships with African nations through enduring development, joint initiatives, and collaborative projects aimed at serving local populations while promoting long-term stability," he said.

Ahmed highlighted that the visit underscores Africa's central role in China's foreign policy.

"China integrates trade and investment with cultural exchange and the shared destiny concept through investment projects. These initiatives enhance human and economic capacities and reinforce institutional and social frameworks that support the continent's growth," he said.

He emphasized that the visit consolidates China–Africa relations as a lasting visionary partnership focused on capacity building, stable development, trust, and civilizational and cultural integration.

During the visit, Wang joined African leaders at the African Union headquarters to officially launch the 2026 China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges. This year was designated as a year of exchanges between the two sides in various areas such as education, culture, media and youth engagement at the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Beijing summit in 2024.

The visit also highlighted China's measure to grant all 53 African countries with which China has diplomatic relations zero tariffs treatment, aiming to expand African export to China. China also reiterated commitment to help upgrade the Tanzania-Zambia Railway and promote integrated development along the corridor.

Hany Soliman, director of the Arab Center for Research and Studies in Cairo, described the visit as a "landmark moment for China–Africa relations".

"By engaging with multiple countries across the continent, China demonstrates its commitment to fostering balanced development, advancing infrastructure projects, and promoting trade and investment partnerships aligned with Africa's long-term priorities," he said.

Soliman highlighted the visit also aims to promote people-to-people exchanges between China and Africa, referring to the launch of the 2026 China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges, which together reinforce trust and mutual understanding.

Regarding specific outcomes, Soliman said that agreements reached during the visit, including on building Tanzania-Zambia Railway prosperity corridor, and investments in agriculture, manufacturing, and mining, exemplify China's ability to combine economic support with long-term development planning.

"These initiatives underscore a model of South–South cooperation that balances immediate developmental needs with harmonious, integrated growth while strengthening Africa's position on the world stage," he said.

Soliman noted that Wang Yi's Africa tour also reflects shifting dynamics in the international system, as Africa's role in global governance continues to expand. He added China's approach highlights a partnership-based model that emphasizes shared development and coordinated multilateral action, at a time when many developing countries seek alternatives to traditional power.

Ghada Gaber, a Cairo-based specialist in China–Africa relations and political science, said the visit reflects China's determination to enhance coordination with African states within international forums, promote worldwide institutional reform, defend the interests of developing countries, and counter exclusionary policies by traditional Western powers.

"This visit transcends short-term, interest-driven considerations and embodies a shared vision grounded in mutual respect, civilizational integration, and the principle of a 'shared future for humanity'," she said.

"Such a vision forms a core intellectual and political pillar of contemporary Chinese foreign policy, demonstrating a commitment to long-term strategic partnerships among developing nations."

The timing of this ministerial tour underscores that China–Africa relations have evolved beyond traditional frameworks focused solely on economic and investment cooperation. The visit represents a deeper phase of engagement integrating political, civilizational, and humanitarian aspects, she said.

"It directly translates the outcomes of the 2024 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation and signals Beijing's dedication to sustaining the momentum toward 2026, ensuring institutional development and the long-term durability of bilateral and multilateral partnerships," Gaber said.

The author is a freelance journalist for China Daily.