TheCable

Chinese Premier, Li Keqiang, will on Tuesday commence visits to Nigeria, Ethiopia, Angola and Kenya.

The Chinese Consulate-General in Lagos said the visits would be his first to Africa since his assumption of office.

The Chinese premier, in a statement, said that he would spend two days in Nigeria before going to Ethiopia, Angola and Kenya.

“In a few days, I will pay an official visit to Ethiopia and the Headquarters of the African Union (AU), Nigeria, Angola and Kenya.

“This is the first time I will be setting foot on Africa as Premier of China’s State Council, and it is my first foreign visit this year.

“I believe this visits will be one of cooperation and solidarity on the basis of our past traditions.

“I will tread the path of friendship previously paved by the older generation of Chinese and African leaders,” he said.

The Chinese premier expressed optimism that the visits would strengthen the existing China and Africa relations.

Li said that the visits would give him the opportunity to hold fruitful discussions with the countries’ Presidents on China’s new planned areas of strengthening bilateral ties with them.

The Premier added that he would also be addressing the AU on his country’s approach to and position on advancing China-Africa relations.

“I hope that through my visits, the 1 billion Africans will better understand that the 1.3 billion Chinese people are always their sincere friends and reliable partners,” he said.

Li said that the visits would also give him the opportunity to meet with Chinese nationals and companies in the countries to be visited.