China’s new foreign minister begins 5-nation tour in Ethiopia

China’s new foreign minister begins 5-nation tour in Ethiopia

Newly appointed Chinese foreign minister Qin Gang arrived in Ethiopia on Tuesday, as part of Beijing’s tradition to begin each year with a diplomatic tour of African nations. Talks in Ethiopia focused on investment and economic development, according to Ethiopian officials. “The relationship between the two countries remains steadfast,” said…

Laureen Fagan

Laureen is the editor of Africa Times

China pledges 1B COVID vaccine doses for Africa

China pledges 1B COVID vaccine doses for Africa

President Xi Jinping of China has pledged to deliver another 1 billion COVID vaccine doses to the African continent, an announcement he made during his speech to the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) held in Dakar. Xi said 600 million doses of China’s vaccines will be donated while the other…

China warns U.S. against ‘big-power competition’ over Africa

China’s foreign ministry spokesman warned against “big power” competition Wednesday when asked about United States influence on the African continent, following diplomatic meetings in which President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria suggested that the U.S. relocate its African headquarters closer to its African operations. Buhari’s remark followed a virtual meeting with U.S….

China, Africa put COVID at center of FOCAC summit

African leaders met Wednesday to discuss the coronavirus pandemic, in a virtual meeting hosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping and President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, the current chair of the African Union. Also coordinating the Summit on Solidarity against COVID-19 was President Macky Sall of Senegal, whose nation holds…

Chinese foreign minister set for five-nation Africa tour

Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi will head to Africa next week, with official visits planned in Egypt, Eritrea and Djibouti, as well as Burundi and Zimbabwe. The diplomatic schedule was announced Thursday by the Ministry of Affairs, which noted China’s tradition of beginning each new year on the African continent….

China’s FM begins 3-nation tour in South Africa

South Africa is hosting the foreign minister of China on Friday, with his counterpart Naledi Pandor of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) of South Africa welcoming him to Durban. Pandor will host bilateral talks in Durban as Wang Yi begins a three-nation visit that also will take him…

African officials to attend follow-up FOCAC meeting in Beijing

China will host the next step in achieving the goals of last September’s Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit, with a coordinators’ meeting planned for June 24 and 25 in Beijing. The meeting, announced Monday by spokesman Geng Shuang of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will see ministerial officials from…

China welcomes news of Sall win in Senegal’s elections

The government of China has extended its congratulations to President Macky Sall of Senegal, who was declared winner of the country’s February 24 election by the Commission Electorale Nationale Autonome (CENA). Lu Kang, spokesman for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, welcomed the news during a Friday briefing and said Sall…

The U.S. may wish otherwise, but what if Africa has chosen China?

China wasted no time in responding to accusations by top United States official John Bolton’s claim that its dealings with Africa are corrupt and predatory. It’s an oft-repeated charge, as the U.S. appears to realize too late that Beijing has spent decades courting the continent while Washington was, by and…

Laureen Fagan

Laureen is the editor of Africa Times

China vows to make Africa a UN Security Council priority

On Thursday, China takes over the rotating presidency of the United Nations Security Council for November and all indications are that African affairs will be a top priority. Foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said that, according to available information, the situation in the Sahel is a priority topic for Security…