Wang has made the African continent his first international port of call at the start of every year since becoming foreign minister in 2013. This year’s trip started in North Africa, in Egypt, a key player in Middle East politics. Togo and Ivory Coast are in West Africa, a region that’s increasingly been severing ties with former colonial power France. Football stadium diplomacyThere are several events taking place in Africa while Wang is there that also could be reasons for his country choices. After Africa, Wang heads to Jamaica and Brazil, two more countries that show China’s increasing focus on engagement with the so-called Global South.
