Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is to visit five countries in Africa from Jan 10 to 17, the ministry's spokesman Hong Lei said on Thursday at a press briefing.

Wang accepted the invitations from his counterparts in Kenya, Sudan, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea and Congo (DRC). It will be the 25th consecutive year since 1991 that China's foreign minister has paid his first annual official visit to African countries.

Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Tanzania, South Africa and the Republic of Congo in 2013, with more than 20 agreements signed in economy and trade.

Premier Li Keqiang also chose Africa as his first overseas destination last year, visiting Ethiopia, Nigeria, Angola and Kenya.

chenmengwei@chinadaily.com.cn