The first visit of the new year takes the Chinese Foreign Minister to Africa. What sounds astonishing to the West has been a tradition in China for 33 years. However, Qin Gang has only been in office for a few weeks – so it would not have been surprising if the first travel destination of China’s new chief diplomat had been elsewhere: For example, to a friend in Russia, to courted partners in Germany or France, or even to the competition in America. But Qin Gang chose Ethiopia, Gabon, Angola, Benin, and Egypt, including a visit to the headquarters of the African Union (AU).