BEIJING — State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi will pay an official visit to Ethiopia and the African Union (AU) Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Burkina Faso, Gambia and Senegal from Jan 2 to 6, 2019.

Wang is visiting at the invitation of Ethiopia’s Foreign Minister Workneh Gebeyehu, Burkina Faso’s Foreign Minister Alpha Barry, Gambian Foreign Affairs Minister Mamadou Tangara and Senegalese Foreign Minister Sidiki Kaba, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying made the announcement on Dec 28 at a press briefing.

Chinese foreign minister has chosen Africa for the first overseas visit each year over the years, Hua said, adding Wang’s visit is a continuation of this fine tradition, which speaks volume for the great importance China has always attached to China-Africa relations.