- China’s Foreign Minister, Wang Yi
By Anthony Nwachukwu
China’s Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, has called for a stronger strategic mutual trust and cooperation between Beijing and the African Union (AU), stating that there can be no global modernisation without the modernisation of Africa.
Wang, who spoke as he concluded his visits to the AU headquarters in Ethiopia, Tanzania and Lesotho, noted that “China is the largest developing country, and the African Union the regional organisation with the most developing countries.
According to Wang, Beijing and the AU should address challenges, “safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of both China and Africa,” and contribute to world peace and development.
He expressed belief that China’s “enormous market will provide broader opportunities for Africa’s development,” while urging the international community to pay more attention to the continent and increase investment in it.
He further expressed Beijing’s readiness to work with African countries to establish institutionalised platforms and support them in “actively exploring successful paths that meet their actual needs, benefit their people, and fully utilise their resource endowments.
China remains Africa’s largest trading partner for 15 consecutive years, with trade reaching $314 billion in the first 11 months of 2025.
Last year marked the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, with Wang’s visit as the 36th consecutive year that Africa has been chosen as the destination for China’s foreign minister’s first overseas trip of the year.
