Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (L) shakes hands with Ethiopian Foreign Minister Workneh Gebeyehu during their meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Jan. 3, 2019. (Xinhua/Zhang Yu)

ADDIS ABABA, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Thursday that China's practical actions prove that Africa is placed at an important place in China's diplomacy.

Wang said strengthening the cooperation with Africa and developing countries is always a top priority for China's diplomacy.

Photo taken on Dec. 9, 2018 shows the Doraleh Multi-Purpose Port in Djibouti. Djibouti is not only a hub of maritime traffic and trade between Europe, Asia and Africa, but also an important gateway to Africa for the construction of the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road. In recent years, a number of China-Djibouti cooperation projects have made important contributions to promoting China-Djibouti economic and trade cooperation. (Xinhua/Wang Teng)

Wang made the remarks while speaking to reporters, following his meeting with Ethiopian Foreign Minister Workneh Gebeyehu on Thursday in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa.

Chinese foreign minister has chosen Africa for the first overseas visit each year for 29 years consecutively, Wang said, stressing that the action has become a fine tradition in China's diplomacy.

Wang said that the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) held in last September was a great success, stressing that the eight major initiatives outlined by China point the direction for the future of China-Africa cooperation with a blueprint.

Photo taken on Dec. 9, 2018 shows the Djibouti International Free Trade Zone in Djibouti. (Xinhua/Wang Teng)

The main purpose of this visit is to communicate with African countries in adherence to the principles of sincerity, real results, affinity and good faith, and the approach of upholding justice and pursuing shared interests, put forward by Chinese President Xi Jinping, so as to boost the implementation of the consensus reached at the Beijing summit of the FOCAC, said Wang.

Wang added that the visit is made to strengthen bilateral ties and further advance China-Africa comprehensive strategic and cooperative partnership.

In his trip which is scheduled to end on Jan. 6, Wang will also pay an official visit to the African Union (AU) Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Burkina Faso, Gambia and Senegal.

File photo taken on June 1, 2018 shows a passenger taking a selfie at the Nairobi station of Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway in Kenya. In past years, China and African nations have deepened mutual assistance in development and made concerted efforts in building a closer China-Africa community with a shared future. (Xinhua/Wang Teng)

File photo taken on June 10, 2018 shows the Sports Center built with Chinese assistance in Brazzaville, capital of Republic of Congo. In past years, China and African nations have deepened mutual assistance in development and made concerted efforts in building a closer China-Africa community with a shared future. (Xinhua/Wang Teng)