China’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Wang Yi, will visit Mozambique as part of an official tour to four African nations, Chinese state-run news agency Xinhua reported.

Mr Wang will also visit Mauritius, Malawi and Namibia on the tour, which runs from January 30 to February 4.

“Choosing Africa as the destination for the… Minister’s first trip each year is a fine tradition of China’s diplomacy,” said the Ministry’s spokesperson, Hua Chunying, at a news conference on Thursday, as quoted by Xinhua. “It shows the importance attached to China-Africa ties,” she added.

Mr Wang would meet leaders – including the foreign affairs ministers of the four nations – to discuss implementing the outcomes of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit last month in Johannesburg, South Africa. The talks would identify priority areas for co-operation and for development projects, the spokesperson said.

At the FOCAC summit last month, the Chinese President, Xi Jinping, unveiled a US$60-billion package to boost development in Africa.

“We hope co-operation between China and Africa will bear fruit and benefit the people at an early date, as well as promote win-win outcomes and joint development between China and Africa,” said Ms Hua.