According to a Monday announcement from the Foreign Ministry, China’s incoming Foreign Minister Qin Gang will visit five African nations during a weeklong tour.
From January 9 to 16, Qin, who most recently served as ambassador to the United States, will travel to Ethiopia, Gabon, Angola, Benin, and Egypt, according to spokesperson Wang Wenbin. Qin will also meet with the Arab League secretary-general in Egypt.
The previous foreign ministers, who began each year with a journey to Africa for more than three decades, are being followed by the next foreign minister.
It demonstrates how highly valued China’s long-standing friendship with Africa and the advancement of China-Africa relations are, according to Wang.
President Joe Biden appealed to African leaders at a summit in Washington in December as the U.S. and China compete for influence in Africa. China has grown to be the continent’s largest commercial partner and a major investor in mining and infrastructure projects.
On December 30, Qin, 56, was appointed foreign minister. He succeeded Wang Yi, 69, who took Yang Jiechi’s place as the head of the government’s foreign policy.
Although Wang’s new role has not been made public, a recent piece he published on the website of the Foreign Ministry named him as the director of the Communist Party’s foreign affairs office, a position that Yang currently holds.