May 1956 Egypt became the first African country to establish diplomatic relations with China. By the early 1960s, over 10 African countries, including Morocco, Algeria, Sudan and Guinea, had established diplomatic relations with China.

December 1963-June 1965 Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai made three visits to Africa, inspiring a large number of African countries to seek diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic. By the end of the 1970s, 44 of the 50 independent African countries had entered into diplomatic relations with China. Today, China enjoys diplomatic ties with 48 of the 53 African countries.

July 1976 The Tanzania-Zambia Railway opened to traffic. The 1,860-km railway built with Chinese assistance has been hailed as a monument of China-Africa friendship.

May 1996 Chinese President Jiang Zemin visited Kenya, Egypt, Ethiopia, Mali, Namibia and Zimbabwe. He proposed developing a China-Africa relationship toward the 21st century characterized by “long-term stability and all-around cooperation” when delivering a speech at the headquarters of the Organization of African Unity in Addis Ababa.

October 2000 The Forum for China-Africa Cooperation was created to expand cooperation and promote common development.

January 2006 The Chinese Government issued its China’s African Policy white paper, its first ever policy paper on strengthening across-the-board cooperation with Africa.

April 2006 Chinese President Hu Jintao visited Morocco, Nigeria and Kenya. Addressing the National Assembly in the Nigerian capital of Abuja, he put forward proposals on establishing “a new type of China-Africa strategic partnership.”