As at the start of every year, China is sticking to its trade strategy—above all with Africa.
For the 36th consecutive year, China’s foreign minister has made the African continent Beijing’s first official destination.
In 2026, this ritual takes on special significance as China and Africa mark 70 years of diplomatic relations.
After Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) and the headquarters of the African Union, the tour is focusing on key geostrategic hubs: Somalia for maritime security and trade routes; Tanzania for mining corridors; and Lesotho to showcase trade openness toward the world’s poorest countries.
For the Chinese authorities, the primary lever is trade liberalization, as the government has pledged zero tariffs on 100% of African products, turning its vast domestic market into a strategic outlet for the continent’s exports—particularly agricultural and mineral goods.
The second pillar targets social influence, with China seeking to institutionalize people-to-people exchanges through permanent programs of cultural, educational, and youth cooperation, anchoring the relationship within African civil societies.
Finally, the third axis is political, centered on cooperation platforms on governance, where African and Chinese officials exchange views on development models and state management.
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