Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Politburo Member Wang Yi’s annual inaugural visit to Africa in January sets the tone for Africa-China relations each year. A diplomatic tradition observed since 1991, the trip is Wang’s 63rd visit to Africa since 2013. He has advanced a five-point agenda:
- Accelerating implementation of the 2024-2027 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Action Plan ahead of the 2027 FOCAC summit in the Republic of the Congo
- Consolidating critical mineral supply chains
- Deepening political party-to-party and government-to-government ties
- Expanding security cooperation and military modernization
- Securing African diplomatic support for China’s broader geostrategic initiatives at the global level
These priorities underscore a Chinese approach that seeks to align its economic, security, and diplomatic interests in Africa. African countries’ collective policy objectives, by contrast, remain less clearly articulated. To help unpack African perspectives and strategic trade-offs, the Africa Center for Strategic Studies spoke with Ambassador Fred Ngoga, who coordinates external partnerships for the African Union (AU), including relations with China.
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