In the early morning of Addis Ababa, the sun shines on the headquarters building of the African Union. On January 8th local time, Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs, pressed the start button here, officially kicking off the "China Africa Cultural Exchange Year" in 2026. This is the first highlight of Wang Yi's trip to Africa, and it is also the 36th consecutive year that Chinese Foreign Ministers have visited Africa for the first time at the beginning of the year, continuing the diplomatic tradition that has never stopped since 1991.

This visit will promote the implementation of the outcomes of the Beijing summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation of the Forum on China Africa Cooperation, and deepen infrastructure, economic and trade exchanges and people to people and cultural exchanges and cooperation. Flagship projects such as the Addis Ababa Djibouti Railway and the Tanzania Zambia Railway have become the cornerstone of promoting regional integration and deepening common development. Chinese companies have built or upgraded over 10000 kilometers of railways, nearly 100000 kilometers of highways, nearly 1000 bridges, and approximately 100 ports in Africa, significantly accelerating the modernization process of infrastructure in Africa.

From the political capital of Africa to a country within a country

Wang Yi's choice of four countries for this visit is quite particular. Ethiopia is the headquarters of the African Union, known as the "political capital of Africa" and a leader in Africa's economic development; Somalia, located in the Horn of Africa, holds a key global waterway and also faces challenges from separatist forces; Tanzania has a long history of cooperation with China and is an old friend among old friends; Lesotho is a "country within a country" completely surrounded by South Africa, with an area smaller than Hainan Province in China, but it has become an important stop for Wang Yi's trip.

On January 7, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning said at a regular press conference that Ethiopia, Somalia, Tanzania and Lesotho are all China's strategic partners. Foreign Minister Wang Yi's visit is aimed at deepening political mutual trust with all parties, promoting the implementation of the outcomes of the Beijing summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, strengthening exchanges and mutual learning between China and Africa's two major civilizations, and injecting new impetus into the construction of an all-weather China Africa community of shared future in the new era.

In Ethiopia, Wang Yi held separate meetings and talks with Prime Minister Abi and Foreign Minister Geddeon. The two sides committed to jointly promote the further implementation of the outcomes of the Beijing summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, deepen all-round cooperation, and strive to build the all-weather strategic partnership between China and Ethiopia as a model for building an all-weather community of common destiny in the new era. Both sides agree to deepen cooperation in traditional fields such as economy and trade, infrastructure, energy, and transportation, as well as explore the potential for cooperation in new fields such as e-commerce, digital economy, artificial intelligence, and green energy.

The steel artery from the Yagi Railway to the Tanzan Railway

Transportation connectivity is a key area of cooperation between China and Africa. The flagship projects of the the Belt and Road, such as the Addis Ababa Djibouti Railway and the Tanzania Zambia Railway, have become the cornerstone of promoting regional integration and deepening common development.

As one of the fastest-growing economies in Africa, Ethiopia and China have a solid foundation for cooperation in infrastructure and industrial development. Among them, the Addis Ababa Djibouti Railway is the first cross-border electrified railway in Africa, and also the first railway project constructed by China overseas that adopts Chinese standards for the entire industry chain. It has become an important channel for regional logistics and economic and trade exchanges. This visit is expected to further explore investment and cooperation in the manufacturing and infrastructure sectors on the basis of existing cooperation.

Tanzania is an important destination for this trip. As a key logistics hub connecting the Central African mineral resource area to the Indian Ocean, the modernization of its railway network has strategic significance for the economic integration of East and Southern Africa. The Tanzania Zambia Railway, which connects Tanzania and Zambia, is one of China's largest foreign aid projects to date and an important symbol of China Africa friendship. To this day, the railway is still affectionately referred to as the "Road of Freedom" and "Road of Friendship" by the local people. Currently, China is advancing the upgrading and renovation of the Tanzania Zambia Railway, and continuing to explore opportunities for cooperation in the mining and energy sectors.

Since the establishment of the Forum on China Africa Cooperation in 2000, Chinese companies have helped African countries build or upgrade over 10000 kilometers of railways, nearly 100000 kilometers of roads, nearly 1000 bridges, and approximately 100 ports. These projects have significantly accelerated the modernization process of infrastructure in Africa and provided solid support for regional economic integration.

Comprehensive Cooperation from Zero Tariffs to the Year of Cultural Exchange

In Lesotho, both China and Africa will promote trade cooperation. In June 2025, China announced that it would implement 100% tariff free products for 53 African countries with diplomatic relations, and Lesotho is expected to expand its economic and trade exchanges with China based on this. This is an important measure taken by China to fulfill its commitment to free trade with the least developed countries and deepen cooperation in Southern Africa.

In the past three years, China has created over one million job opportunities in Africa, launched initiatives to empower small and medium-sized enterprises, and hosted the China Africa Economic and Trade Expo, bringing extensive benefits to the African people. At the 2024 Forum on China Africa Cooperation Summit held in Beijing, China established or upgraded strategic partnerships with 30 African countries. Thus, China and 53 African strategic partners stand shoulder to shoulder.

Cultural exchange is the driving force behind the intergenerational friendship between China and Africa. During Wang Yi's visit, both sides will kick off the "China Africa Cultural Exchange Year". In the view of South African sinologist Tan Zhili, the Cultural Exchange Year and related projects can deeply resonate with each other on a spiritual level. Faced with the intensification of geopolitical games and cultural misunderstandings, cultural exchanges are the "protective forest" for maintaining the long-term development of bilateral relations.

In recent years, from the continuous deepening of Chinese education and vocational training, to the vigorous development of art and sports event exchanges, fruitful achievements have been made in cultural exchanges between China and Africa. This visit will help further enhance the understanding of cultural exchanges between China and Africa, promote mutual learning and spiritual connection between the two major civilizations of China and Africa. Keywords: international news, cultural information

From 1991 to 2026, from Qian Qichen to Wang Yi, the Chinese Foreign Minister's first New Year visit to Africa for 36 consecutive years has become a unique landscape in international relations. When the world is still exploring in uncertainty, China Africa friendship has become one of the most precious determinacy in turbulent times. As Wang Yi said at the opening ceremony of the "China Africa Cultural Exchange Year", let us take the opportunity of opening the "China Africa Cultural Exchange Year", uphold the original intention of friendship, build a solid foundation for cooperation, and accelerate the construction of an all-weather China Africa community with a shared future in the new era.Editor/Yang Meiling