Foreign Minister's tour boosts ties with Africa

Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi's just-concluded African tour will help boost strategic ties with the continent against Western accusations of a "China threat" in Africa, Chinese experts said.

Following a tradition that goes back two decades, Yang made Africa the destination of his first overseas tour this year.

The foreign minister started his visit to five African nations - Kenya, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Algeria and Morocco - on Jan 6 before touring Saudi Arabia and the Maldives.