ISTANBUL 

China's new foreign minister will uphold the country's tradition of making the year's first diplomatic visit to African nations, according to a statement on Monday.

Qin Gang, who assumed office as China's top diplomat last month, plans to visit Ethiopia, Gabon, Angola, Benin, Egypt, and the headquarters of the African Union and Arab League, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced.

The former Chinese ambassador will depart on Monday on his week-long trip, set to return on Jan. 16.

"This is the 33rd consecutive year that Africa has been the destination of Chinese foreign ministers' annual first overseas visit," said ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin.

Qin, 56, succeeded State Councilor Wang Yi as foreign minister of the world's most populous nation and second-largest economy.

He had previously served as China's ambassador to Washington since July 2021 amid tensions between the two countries.

Earlier, Qin had also held the post of Foreign Ministry spokesperson and was promoted to deputy foreign minister in 2018.

Wang, now 69, took the helm of Chinese diplomacy in 2013 and served until December 2022.

He was elected to the 24-member Politburo of the Communist Party of China and was appointed as head of the party's Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission.