New Chinese Minister starts Africa tour

Newly appointed Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang has arrived in Ethiopia to kick off a weeklong tour to five African countries.

He was welcomed in the capital, Addis Ababa, Tuesday morning by his Ethiopian counterpart Demeke Mekonnen.

Qin, who until recently was ambassador to US, became the foreign minister in late December.

He is expected to meet senior African Union officials during his trip in Ethiopia and visit Chinese-funded headquarters for the continent’s Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Addis Ababa.

Qin will thereafter proceed to Gabon, Angola, Benin and Egypt.