At a Glance
- China’s top diplomat is touring Africa to strengthen trade corridors and shipping access.
- Beijing is shifting focus from large loans to trade, logistics and export-led partnerships.
- Railways, ports and mineral routes are central as global rivals expand their presence in Africa.
China has opened the year with a fresh diplomatic push across Africa, putting trade routes, shipping access and supply chains at the center of its outreach as competition for influence on the continent grows.
The effort is being led by Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who this week began his annual New Year tour of Africa.
The trip continues a practice Beijing has kept for more than 30 years, using the first overseas visit of the year to underline Africa’s place in China’s foreign policy.
This year’s tour carries a sharper economic edge. Chinese officials are emphasizing ports, railways and logistics hubs that move goods from African producers to global markets, reflecting a shift away from big-ticket lending toward trade and investment.
That shift comes as African governments seek deals that create jobs, support local industry and expand exports, rather than focusing solely on roads and power plants.
Those expectations are reshaping talks around China’s Belt and Road Initiative, President Xi Jinping’s signature development program.
At the same time, the United States and the European Union are expanding their own engagement in Africa, turning trade access and supply security into key points of competition.
Trade over lending
China remains Africa’s largest bilateral lender, but borrowing has slowed since the pandemic as debt pressures mounted in several countries.
Beijing has responded by backing smaller projects, joint ventures and export-driven partnerships.
Officials have framed the change as a move toward “sustainable” cooperation, with more emphasis on commerce, manufacturing and regional supply chains.
Wang’s tour, which runs until Jan. 12, includes Ethiopia, Somalia, Tanzania and Lesotho—countries that offer economic scale, strategic geography or political leverage.
Ports, railways and minerals
In Ethiopia, one of Africa’s fastest-growing large economies, China is expected to promote trade ties and highlight existing Belt and Road projects.
The International Monetary Fund forecasts the economy will grow 7.2% this year.
Somalia offers China access to the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, a key route for shipping between Asia and Europe.
Wang’s visit to Mogadishu is the first by a Chinese foreign minister since the 1980s and comes as Beijing reiterates support for Somalia’s territorial integrity.
In Tanzania, Chinese companies are refurbishing the Tazara Railway linking the country to Zambia, a corridor seen as critical for moving copper and other minerals from central Africa.
Market access pitch
Wang’s final stop in Lesotho is expected to focus on market access.
China last year granted tariff-free entry to goods from the world’s poorest countries, opening its $19 trillion economy to exporters that face tougher trade barriers elsewhere.
