（Chou Wen-Feng, Assistant Professor, Graduate Institute of Strategic Studies, National Defense University）
Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, and Foreign Minister, visited Namibia, the Republic of Congo, Chad, and Nigeria from January 5 to 11. It marks the 35th consecutive year that a Chinese Foreign Minister's first overseas visit at the beginning of the year has been to Africa, symbolizing the importance China placed on what Mao Zedong once referred to as "African brothers". China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs claimed that Wang’s visit aims to promote the outcomes of the "Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Beijing Summit", deepen practical cooperation in various fields, and promote the continuous development of relations with Africa. On his return journey, Wang also made a visit to the Maldives.
The major points of Wang Yi's visit to Africa include: First, in terms of deepening cooperation with the visited countries, Wang Yi's focus in Namibia was his meeting with President-elect Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah. He expressed that China would provide as much support as possible for Namibia's economic development, helping Namibia turn its resource advantages into development strength, thus benefitting its people. Nandi-Ndaitwah, in turn, stated that Namibia will strengthen cooperation with China in trade, education, agriculture, infrastructure, and energy resources.
During talks with President Sassou of the Republic of Congo, it was agreed to further assist Congo in addressing development issues in infrastructure, electricity, agriculture, and industrialization projects. In discussions with President Mahamat Deby and Prime Minister Allamaye Halina of Chad, it focused on strengthening comprehensive cooperation between the two sides, mutual support on major international issues, and encouraging Chinese enterprises to invest in Chad.
Finally, Wang Yi met with Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar, expressing support for Nigeria's efforts to combat terrorism. He commended the holding of the first plenary session of the "Intergovernmental Committee" between the two countries, committing closer coordination on international and regional affairs. He also stressed the potential for China-Nigeria cooperation in emerging fields such as clean energy, green minerals, and finance, while advocating for comprehensive and coordinated development in trade, agriculture, humanity, defense, technology, and aerospace.
Second, implementing the outcomes of the "Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Beijing Summit" was the priority of Wang Yi's visit. In his conversations with various national leaders, Wang discussed progress and future goals, focusing on developing strategic docking and exchanging governance experiences with the guideline of "six modernizations." He stated that China has elevated its relations with all 53 African allies to a strategic level, setting a benchmark for the all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era. Both sides will focus on the "ten partnership actions", jointly identifying priorities and key projects, implementing a 100% tariff-free policy for taxable products, establishing a coordinated and interconnected land-sea network, promoting a thousand small but beneficial livelihood projects, and perfecting the investment and trade cooperation mechanism. All the efforts aim to provide markets, technology, and funds for Africa’s modernization.
The republic of Congo serves as the African co-chairs of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). Wang Yi stated that both sides will jointly plan the roadmap for the forum’s development over the next three years. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the forum’s establishment, the focus will be on achieving more "early harvests" from the outcomes of the "Beijing Summit”. In 2026, both sides will co-host events marking the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Africa, as well as the "China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges". Through the 18th Senior Officials Meeting of FOCAC, the two sides will accelerate the implementation of the summit outcomes in the "mid-term". In 2027, the focus will be on preparing for the 10th FOCAC Ministerial Conference, driving the final completion of the implementation of the summit outcomes.
Third, when talking about military aid to Africa in a joint press conference with Nigerian Foreign Minister, Wang Yi strikingly brought up Xi Jinping’s commitment of military aid to Africa announced last year. Wang stated that Beijing would provide one billion yuan in “free military aid” to Africa. China would help train 6,000 troops and 1,000 police officers across Africa. The initiative aims to "oppose external forces interfering in the internal affairs of African countries in any forms" and "firmly support Africa in strengthening its capacity for peace and security". China will seek to establish a "global security initiative demonstration zone" with its African allies.
Looking at the countries Wang Yi visited this year, Namibia is located on the southwestern Africa along the Atlantic coast. It is the largest hub for Chinese investments in African port construction, with significant investments in local uranium mines. The Republic of Congo has also recently received a $150 million investment in oil fields from a subsidiary of China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC). Nigeria and Chad are both oil-producing countries. Nigeria, located in West Africa, is the largest economy in Africa and China's primary contracting market in the continent. Chinese investments are currently engaged in various construction projects, including railways and deepwater ports.
Notably, as France and other western powers are gradually withdrawing from Chad and the sub-Saharan Sahel region, it creates an excellent opportunity for Beijing to comprehensively expand its “strategic security cooperation” with these countries and fill the power vacuum. It is anticipated that China will focus its “free military aid” in this region. Compared to Latin America, traditionally considered the “backyard” of the United States, the Middle East, where geopolitical dynamics are complex, and Southeast Asia is still far from becoming China's “backyard”, Africa, however, seems to have more favorable conditions for China to establish its sphere of influence. As Beijing's influence in Africa expands, moving from economic and political to military aspects, subsequent changes are likely to impact the international political landscape.
Furthermore, considering the visits to Africa by China's foreign ministers at the beginning of each year since 2021, a total of 19 African countries have been visited over the past five years. Among them, only Egypt has been visited consecutively in 2023 and 2024, while Nigeria was revisited since 2021. It highlights the importance of the two countries in China's diplomacy toward Africa. In addition, with South Africa and Ethiopia, both BRICS countries that keep close ties with China, Beijing’s four major political pillars in Africa are evident. The alignment of these countries with China's diplomatic stance in international multilateral arenas and their influence on other African nations is another aspect worth continued exploration.
（Translated to English by Tracy Chou）
