As China's foreign ministers continue the long-standing tradition of making Africa their first overseas destination each year, Foreign Minister Wang Yi's 2026 Africa tour has once again drawn attention to the depth and direction of China-Africa relations. This year marks the 36th consecutive year of the tradition, coinciding with the 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and Africa and the opening phase of China's 15th Five-Year Plan. Lesotho's Ambassador to China Mapaballo Mile and Professor Wang Jingjie of Peking University's National School of Development share insights into the broader significance of the visit, highlighting people-centered diplomacy, economic upgrading, and a shared commitment to multilateralism.

A consistent signal of long-term partnership

Professor Wang described the annual Africa visit as one of the clearest indicators of China's foreign policy priorities.

"This tradition has become one of the most consistent signals in China's diplomacy," she said. "It conveys that China-Africa relations are not temporary or transactional. They are treated as a long-term strategic priority, with continuity and planning."

She noted that this year's itinerary balanced continental engagement with regional focus, combining meetings with the African Union and visits to key countries in East Africa, underscoring support for regional integration, stability, and modernization.

People-to-people exchanges take center stage

A key highlight of the tour was the launch of the 2026 China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges, unveiled during Wang Yi's stop at the African Union headquarters.

Ambassador Mapaballo Mile called the initiative "an important new phase in China-Africa relations," emphasizing that it expands cooperation beyond governments.

"It elevates cooperation beyond government-to-government engagement to include cultural exchange, education, tourism, youth engagement, media cooperation, and community-level partnerships," she said.

For countries like Lesotho, where youth unemployment remains a pressing challenge, Ambassador Mile stressed that people-centered diplomacy supports economic diplomacy by building skills, trust, and social foundations for long-term cooperation.

"It gives the partnership a human face," she added. "Even my grandmother in a rural village knows there is a country called China, knows its people, and understands the strength of this partnership."

Professor Wang echoed this view, noting that in a time of global uncertainty, people-to-people ties become more important.

"They are the deep foundations of friendship," she said. "People-to-people understanding can stabilize state relations, even when external conditions change."

Ethiopia and Tanzania: From projects to integrated development

Discussing Wang Yi's visit to Ethiopia, Professor Wang highlighted the shift from project-based cooperation to a more integrated partnership.

"What stood out this time is the emphasis on upgrading," she said, pointing to digital economy cooperation, green energy, and electric vehicles as emerging growth areas.

She described Ethiopia as a key hub for Chinese enterprises in Africa, noting that cooperation is increasingly focused on capacity building rather than simply expanding trade volume.

Tanzania, another major stop, was described as a "classic example" of China-Africa cooperation supporting regional integration.

"The TAZARA railway symbolizes development-oriented connectivity," Professor Wang said. "Today, revitalizing and upgrading that corridor supports wider regional logistics, trade flows, and industrial clusters across East Africa."

Lesotho: Timely support amid economic pressures

Ambassador Mile said Wang Yi's visit to Lesotho came at a critical moment, as recent U.S. tariff measures have placed pressure on the country's manufacturing sector.

"These challenges make economic diversification, market access, and investment promotion more urgent than ever," she explained. "The visit was both timely and strategic."

She outlined progress in renewable energy, digital connectivity, industrial parks, and healthcare cooperation, including continued support for the Maseru District Hospital and plans for improved cancer treatment facilities.

"This support is making a significant impact on our health indicators and easing the strain on our national budget," she said.

Multilateralism as a shared imperative

Against a backdrop of rising unilateralism and geopolitical tensions, both guests stressed the importance of defending multilateralism and international fairness.

Ambassador Mile warned that "law-of-the-jungle practices" threaten global stability and development gains.

She stressed that China's Global Governance Initiative responds directly to these concerns.

"China's Global Governance Initiative responds directly to these challenges by promoting respect for sovereignty, non-interference, equitable participation, and peaceful conflict resolution," she said, adding that these principles align closely with Africa's aspirations.

Professor Wang emphasized that for developing countries, multilateralism is not abstract.

"It is practical protection," she said. "International rules should protect all countries, not only the strongest."

Toward high-quality cooperation

Looking to the future, both guests expressed optimism that China-Africa relations are entering a more implementation-driven stage.

Professor Wang said the next phase would pay greater attention to sustainable investment, industry upgrading, digital innovation, and workforce development.

Ambassador Mile agreed, highlighting green development, manufacturing, digital economy, and youth empowerment as priority areas.

"China-Africa cooperation is evolving from traditional assistance into a modern development partnership built on mutual benefit, trust, sustainability, and shared prosperity," she said.