Changsha, June 11, 2025 – The Europe Today: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held a series of bilateral meetings on Tuesday with several African foreign ministers attending the Ministerial Meeting of Coordinators on the Implementation of the Follow-up Actions of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), hosted in Changsha, the capital of central China’s Hunan Province.
Among the African dignitaries were Musalia Mudavadi of Kenya, Yassine Fall of Senegal, Mahmoud Thabit Kombo of Tanzania, Selma Ashipala-Musavyi of Namibia, Phenyo Butale of Botswana, and Tete Antonio of Angola.
In his meeting with Kenyan Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Minister Musalia Mudavadi, Wang Yi — also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee — affirmed China’s readiness to work closely with Kenya to implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state. He emphasized mutual support, deepened political trust, and stronger bilateral cooperation. Wang stressed that the ongoing ministerial meeting marks a significant step in bolstering solidarity among countries of the Global South.
Wang praised Kenya’s regional influence and reiterated China’s commitment to strategic coordination with Kenya in defending the rights and interests of developing nations and upholding international norms. In response, Mudavadi reaffirmed Kenya’s adherence to the one-China principle and its commitment to strengthening comprehensive, mutually beneficial cooperation with China.
Meeting with Senegalese Minister of Foreign Affairs Yassine Fall, Wang highlighted China’s willingness to share the opportunities of its modernization with African countries, including Senegal. He reiterated China’s commitment to multilateralism, international equity, and the development rights of emerging nations.
Fall expressed strong support for the one-China principle, underscoring Senegal’s intention to deepen its longstanding friendship with China and Africa’s broader partnership with Beijing. She voiced Senegal’s eagerness to expand high-level exchanges and welcomed increased Chinese investment.
In talks with Tanzanian Minister Kombo, Wang commended Tanzania for its effective implementation of outcomes from the 2018 Beijing FOCAC Summit. He acknowledged Tanzania’s support for China’s core interests and emphasized China’s readiness to cooperate with Tanzania and Zambia in revitalizing the Tanzania-Zambia Railway — a symbol of historic China-Africa cooperation.
Kombo thanked China for its sustained development assistance and trade support, including zero-tariff treatment. He reaffirmed Tanzania’s unwavering adherence to the one-China principle and commitment to further strengthening bilateral ties.
During his meeting with Namibian Foreign Minister Selma Ashipala-Musavyi, Wang emphasized the enduring tradition of mutual trust and solidarity between China and Namibia. He called for strengthened alignment between development strategies to boost industrialization and deliver tangible benefits to the Namibian people.
Ashipala-Musavyi echoed confidence in the ministerial meeting’s outcomes and expressed Namibia’s eagerness to enhance synergy with China in key sectors of development.
Speaking with Botswana’s Foreign Minister Phenyo Butale, Wang noted that 2025 will mark 50 years of diplomatic ties between China and Botswana. He reiterated China’s support for Botswana’s independent development path and commitment to broadening cooperation, including in trade, energy, manufacturing, and health.
Butale reaffirmed Botswana’s adherence to the one-China principle and its continued participation in the Belt and Road Initiative, aiming to deepen strategic and economic collaboration with China.
In his dialogue with Angolan Foreign Minister Tete Antonio, Wang reiterated that China’s policy toward Angola remains stable and does not impose political conditions on its support. He expressed China’s intention to increase investment and encouraged Angola to ensure the protection of Chinese enterprises and personnel.
Antonio acknowledged the contributions of hundreds of Chinese enterprises to Angola’s national development and infrastructure expansion. He affirmed Angola’s commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation and fulfilling its responsibilities as the rotating chair of the African Union.
The meetings underscored China’s deepening engagement with Africa, reaffirming mutual support, development partnership, and the collective advancement of South-South cooperation under the FOCAC framework.
