By Sale Lawal
The new Chinese Foreign Minister Mr. Qin Gang is set to visit Gabon, Angola, Benin, Egypt, Ethiopian, the African Union and League of Arab States respectively.
The visit as communicated by the Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin is to deepen the China-Africa comprehensive, strategic cooperative partnership between China and African countries.
Mr. Qin will also visit the headquarters of African Union in Addis Ababa and the League of Arab States respectively.
The diplomatic tour which starts from January 9 – 16, 2023 is also the 33rd consecutive years that Chinese Foreign Minister keeps the tradition of starting his overseas visits with African countries.
Also, this year’s visit is significant being the first diplomatic shuttle of the newly appointed Foreign Minister Qin Gang who assumed duties early this month.
— Lawal Sale is Global Affairs Analyst based in Abuja.
