The visit will mark the 34th consecutive year in which the foreign minister has gone to Africa for their first overseas trip of the year, foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a regular press conference.

Wang will also visit Brazil and Jamaica from Jan. 18-22, Mao added.

(Reporting by Eduardo Baptista; Writing by Andrew Hayley; Editing by Kim Coghill and Muralikumar Anantharaman)