Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi began his African tour on Jan. 8 in Ethiopia, where he led the Chinese delegation to the China AU Strategic Dialogue at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. He will also be traveling to Somalia, Tanzania and Lesotho.
The AU delegation was led by AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf. Both leaders agreed to deepen cooperation on global priorities and inject “positive momentum” into peace and stability through coordinated action on international issues.They pledged to jointly defend the legitimate rights and interests of the Global South. They also voiced shared concern about recent developments in Venezuela and expressed respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity under international law. Stressing the importance of enhanced Africa-China economic relations, both sides agreed to align China’s 15th Five Year Plan with the AU’s Agenda 2063 development framework to expand practical partnerships. They also agreed to cooperate in the implementation of China’s Global Security Initiative to enhance shared security goals.
