Chinese FM to visit five African countries

BEIJING, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi will pay official visits to Egypt, Djibouti, Eritrea, Burundi and Zimbabwe from Jan. 7 to 13.

Wang is visiting at the invitation of Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, Djiboutian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Mahamudu Ali Youssouf, Eritrean Foreign Minister Osman Saleh, Burundian Foreign Minister Ezechiel Nibigira and Zimbabwe's Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Sibusiso Moyo, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang announced Thursday at a press briefing.

This is the 30th consecutive year since 1991 for a Chinese foreign minister to visit Africa at the start of every year, Geng said, adding this fine tradition fully reflects China's high priority on developing its ties with Africa, which is strong proof of the time-tested solid friendship between China and Africa.

Noting this year marks the 20th anniversary of the inception of the Forum on China Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and an important year to implement the outcomes of the 2018 FOCAC Beijing Summit, Geng said Wang will strengthen communication and alignment with the African side to promote the joint construction of the Belt and Road, uphold China-Africa traditional friendship, and move forward bilateral ties and China-Africa ties during his upcoming visit.