NEWS & POLITICS
China’s foreign minister Wang Yi launches Africa tour to boost trade, shipping routes and belt and road ties
China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi has begun his annual New Year diplomatic tour of Africa, underscoring Beijing's push to deepen trade access across Eastern and Southern Africa while securing critical shipping routes and long-term resource supply lines.
Noluthando Buthelezi
EASTERN AFRICA | 7 January (Running Africa) - This year's itinerary includes Ethiopia, which is forecasting economic growth of 7.2 percent in 2026; Tanzania, widely regarded as a regional logistics hub; Lesotho, whose export-dependent economy has been further strained by recent United States trade measures; and Somalia, prized for its proximity to some of the world's busiest maritime corridors.
Wang's stop in Somalia is drawing particular attention. It will mark the first visit by a Chinese foreign minister since the 1980s and is expected to deliver a significant diplomatic lift to Mogadishu, coming weeks after Israel recognizes the Republic of Somaliland's independence. Following that announcement in December, Beijing publicly reaffirmed its support for Somalia's territorial integrity. It signaled its intention to expand its strategic footprint in the Gulf of Aden, a vital artery for Chinese and global trade.
Chinese officials have framed the tour as part of a broader effort to consolidate partnerships tied to the Belt and Road Initiative, Beijing's flagship global infrastructure and connectivity program. Alongside infrastructure and transport links, China says it is targeting expanded export markets across Africa, with a growing focus on youthful, urbanizing, and increasingly affluent economies, which it sees as central to its long-term trade strategy on the continent.
