Wang’s first overseas trip of 2025 shows stability and consistency in China’s approach to Africa

If it is early January, then there is one certainty in the diplomatic world: China will be sending a delegation to Africa. In fact, when Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi landed in Namibia on Jan 6, the first stop on a four-country visit, it marked the 35th consecutive year that China’s foreign minister made Africa the first international trip of 2025.

Wang will also visit the Republic of the Congo, Chad, and Nigeria before returning to China on Jan 11. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said the 2025 trip is important because “President Xi Jinping proposed (last year) that bilateral relations between China and all African countries having diplomatic ties with China be elevated to the level of strategic relations and the overall characterization of China-Africa relations be elevated to an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era”.

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It is important to recognize that the consistency associated with the Chinese foreign minister’s annual trip to Africa serves in stark contrast to a chaotic scene playing out in other parts of the world. And in 2025, it will be even more noteworthy.

Of course, political change is coming to the United States in days, as Donald Trump returns to the White House. What his second presidency will mean for domestic and international affairs remains unclear. What is known is that if he follows through on his campaign promises, Washington’s relations with China, Europe and other parts of the world are likely to suffer. International agreements relating to climate change and global health might also be challenged.

But the US is not the lone question mark as 2025 begins: There are likely changes at the top happening in other nations, and the effect of those elections on global policy and trade is not yet clear.

Finally, throughout significant parts of the globe, citizens of multiple countries continue to show dissatisfaction with their leaders and the direction of their nations.

Looking for something that is the polar opposite? Then shift to the annual conversations that take place every January on the African continent with the participation of Chinese officials.

This year’s visit comes at an auspicious time. In 2024, China successfully hosted the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. As part of that gathering, President Xi reminded everyone that the “China-Africa friendship remains robust and is growing stronger through generations no matter how the world changes”.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres applauded the growing ties between China and Africa, noting “China’s partnership with the African continent is the main pillar of South-South cooperation”.

While he is on the African continent, Foreign Minister Wang is expected to advance key pillars of that cooperation, which could include strengthening shared governance, knowledge networks and people-to-people exchanges.

Last year, Boston University’s Global Development Policy Center examined top issues in the China-Africa relationship. It noted that China can provide important lessons to Africa as it continues to transition to a more environmentally friendly energy structure. According to the center, currently, 90 percent of Africa’s energy consumption comes from fossil fuels.

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Economically, trade between China and Africa continues to flourish. One estimate suggests that approximately 20 percent of all African exports go to China and 16 percent of Chinese exports go to Africa. In monetary terms, in 2023, trade between the two sides exceeded $280 billion. In the same year, trade between the US and China was about $575 billion. Experts suggest that China has been able to make significant inroads in Africa because it engaged in construction and manufacturing projects. We should also keep in mind that China announced late last year that it would eliminate tariffs on trade with 33 African countries, a decision that is certain to boost two-way trade in the coming years.

Put all of this together and there ought to be plenty of good news emanating from Namibia, the Republic of the Congo, Chad, and Nigeria. That news should be followed in due time with reports identifying even more robust and diverse trade between China and the African continent.

The author is an associate professor in the Communication and Organizational Leadership Department at Robert Morris University in Pennsylvania, the United States. 

The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.