Foreign Minister Wang Yi has reiterated Mainland China’s invitation to African nations to join the “One Belt, One Road” development strategy.

At the start of a tour of the continent, in Madagascar, Mr Wang said Beijing was exploring co-operation opportunities with a number of nations and that greater benefits could be won by extending that co-operation.

The government-run Xinhua news agency quoted Mr Wang as saying Africa was considered a priority for Mainland diplomacy.

Africa is the first overseas destination for Mr Wang this year, continuing a tradition of almost three decades for Mainland foreign ministers. This six-day tour includes visits to Zambia, Tanzania, the Republic of Congo and Nigeria.

President Xi Jinping proposed the “One Belt, One Road” initiative in 2013. The programme of infrastructure development aims to better connect the economies on trade routes that have historically linked China and the rest of the world.