From February 12 to 15, 2026, Special Representative of the Chinese Government on African Affairs Liu Xianfa held separate meetings in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, with Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Minister of External Relations of Angola Téte António, Foreign Minister of Burundi Édouard Bizimana, Foreign Minister of the Republic of the Congo Jean-Claude Gakosso, Foreign Minister of Sierra Leone Musa Timothy Kabba, Secretary of State to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Algeria Sofiane Chaib, and Ugandan Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Oryem Henry Okello. Liu Xianfa elaborated on President Xi Jinping’s congratulatory message to the 39th AU Summit, and exchanged views with them on relations between China and the AU and the above-mentioned countries, as well as issues of mutual interest.

Liu said that President Xi Jinping has sent congratulatory messages to the AU Summit for 14 consecutive years, and announced China’s new zero-tariff treatment for Africa, which fully demonstrates that China always places Africa high on its overall diplomatic agenda. China stands ready to work with Africa to continue to firmly support each other, advance high-quality development in China-Africa cooperation to jointly pursue modernization, and build an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era.

The African side noted that the congratulatory message from President Xi Jinping is heartfelt and highly inspiring. China’s new zero-tariff treatment for Africa is another strong testament to bilateral solidarity and cooperation. The African side remains firmly committed to the one-China principle. They stand ready to take the 70th anniversary of the start of diplomatic relations between China and Africa and the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges as an opportunity to further strengthen cooperation with China in various fields. They will work with China to jointly safeguard the common interests of the Global South and international fairness and justice.

During his stay in Addis Ababa, Liu also gave a written interview with African media.