A new chapter at the start of 2026: China's Africa diplomacy looks to the people

At the start of a new year, China's top diplomat once again heads to Africa for his first overseas visit. Member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi will visit Ethiopia, Somalia, Tanzania and Lesotho, and attend the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges launch ceremony at the African Union (AU) headquarters in Addis Ababa.

This itinerary follows a tradition that has lasted more than three decades. Since 1991, China's foreign minister has chosen Africa as the destination of his first trip each year, a diplomatic practice widely seen as a clear signal of priority and continuity in China's foreign policy. Against the backdrop of global uncertainty and uneven recovery, this year's visit carries an additional message: China-Africa cooperation is not only about projects and trade, but increasingly about people, shared development paths and long-term trust.

Ethiopia: A symbolic starting point

Ethiopia, home to the headquarters of the AU, has long been a focal point of China-Africa diplomacy. Over the years, cooperation between China and Ethiopia has expanded from traditional infrastructure to industrial capacity, trade facilitation and development planning. China has remained one of Ethiopia's major trading partners and sources of investment, while large-scale projects supported by Chinese enterprises have helped improve connectivity and industrial foundations.

More importantly, Addis Ababa now serves as a political and diplomatic hub for the continent. Holding the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges launch ceremony at the AU headquarters underscores China's intention to engage Africa as a whole, not just bilaterally. It reflects Beijing's view that China-Africa relations have entered a stage where multilateral coordination, shared agendas and people-centered cooperation matter more than ever.

Somalia, Tanzania and Lesotho: Diversity within partnership

The remaining stops on Wang Yi's tour – Somalia, Tanzania and Lesotho – reflect the diversity of China-Africa relations.

In Somalia, China has consistently supported peace, stability and reconstruction, emphasizing respect for sovereignty and independent development. As Somalia continues its efforts to rebuild institutions and restore livelihoods, China has expressed willingness to contribute through development cooperation, humanitarian assistance and capacity building, within the framework of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).

Tanzania represents one of China's longest-standing partnerships in Africa. Over decades, the two sides have built cooperation across infrastructure, trade and investment, and Tanzania has remained a key partner in East Africa. Chinese investment projects there have contributed to local industrialization and employment, while new areas such as green development and the digital economy are gradually emerging as fields of cooperation.

Lesotho, though smaller in size, has been an important partner in China's engagement with southern Africa. Chinese-assisted projects in infrastructure, public services and renewable energy have supported local development, while exchanges in education and training have helped nurture long-term people-to-people ties.

Together, the four countries illustrate a core feature of China-Africa relations: cooperation adapted to local needs, stages of development and national priorities, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.

From projects to people

The launch of the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges marks a clear shift in emphasis. While infrastructure, trade and investment remain pillars of cooperation, both sides increasingly recognize that sustainable relations depend on mutual understanding at the societal level.

According to China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Year of Exchanges will feature a wide range of activities, including youth dialogues, cultural programs, education and training initiatives, media exchanges and cooperation in public health and social development. These activities are designed to bring ordinary Chinese and Africans closer together – students, artists, researchers, local officials and community workers.

In recent years, China has expanded scholarships for African students, established vocational training programs such as Luban Workshops, and supported cooperation in fields like healthcare and poverty reduction. Data released by Chinese official sources show that tens of thousands of African students now study in China each year, while Chinese medical teams and agricultural experts continue to work across the continent. The new exchange year aims to integrate these efforts into a more systematic, visible and long-term framework.

A forward-looking agenda

Wang Yi's Africa tour also serves as an important follow-up to recent FOCAC outcomes, which outlined priority areas such as industrialization, agricultural modernization, digital cooperation, green development and capacity building. As China pursues high-quality development at home, it is increasingly aligning its Africa cooperation with shared modernization goals.

Chinese officials have repeatedly stressed that China does not export a development model, but is willing to share experience and development opportunities. In this context, people-to-people exchanges are seen as a bridge: helping African partners better understand China's development path, while enabling China to learn from Africa's diversity and vitality.

The timing of the visit – at the very start of the year – also sends a message of stability. At a time when geopolitical competition and unilateralism are reshaping international relations, China continues to frame its Africa policy around partnership, respect and long-term commitment.

Looking Ahead

As Wang travels from Addis Ababa to Mogadishu, from Dar es Salaam to Maseru, the focus is not only on diplomatic meetings or signed documents, but on setting the tone for the year ahead. The China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges is designed to make cooperation more tangible to ordinary citizens on both sides, and to reinforce the social foundations of the partnership.