Chinese President Xi Jinping has made Africa a major part of China's international diplomacy since taking office in 2013. His visits have taken him from East and Southern Africa to North and West Africa, with stops linked to state visits, BRICS summits and China-Africa cooperation.

As of October 2026, Xi Jinping has physically visited nine African countries while serving as president of China.

They are Tanzania, South Africa, the Republic of the Congo, Zimbabwe, Egypt, Senegal, Rwanda, Mauritius and Morocco.

His African travel record changed again in September 2026, when Xi made a state visit to Egypt, returning to a country he had first visited in 2016. Chinese government records confirm that the 2026 trip was his second visit to Egypt.

Here is the complete list.

1. Tanzania

First visit: March 2013

Tanzania was one of the first countries Xi visited after becoming China's president.

His March 2013 trip was particularly significant because it was part of his first overseas trip as president. Xi met Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete in Dar es Salaam and discussed bilateral relations and economic cooperation.

The visit also included a speech in which Xi outlined China's approach to its relationship with Africa.

Tanzania therefore holds an unusual place in Xi's presidential travel history: it was one of the first African countries he visited and part of his first foreign tour as China's head of state.

2. South Africa

Visits: 2013, 2015, 2018 and 2023

South Africa is the African country Xi has visited most often as president.

His first visit came in March 2013, when he travelled to Pretoria and Durban and attended the BRICS summit in Durban.

He returned in December 2015 for a state visit and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation summit in Johannesburg.

In July 2018, Xi travelled to South Africa again for the BRICS summit in Johannesburg.

His fourth visit came in August 2023, when he attended the BRICS summit in Johannesburg and made a state visit to South Africa. Chinese government records describe South Africa as a recurring destination in Xi's African diplomacy.

3. Republic of the Congo

Visit: March 2013

Xi visited the Republic of the Congo during his first overseas tour as president.

He travelled to Brazzaville after visiting Tanzania and South Africa.

The visit was historically significant for China-Congo relations because Xi became the first Chinese head of state to visit the country since diplomatic relations were established in 1964.

His talks with President Denis Sassou Nguesso focused on bilateral relations and cooperation between the two countries.

4. Zimbabwe

Visit: December 2015

Xi travelled to Zimbabwe in December 2015 during a wider African tour.

He held talks with President Robert Mugabe and witnessed agreements covering areas of bilateral cooperation.

The visit was also notable because Xi's trip came at a time when China was deepening economic and diplomatic relationships with African governments.

Zimbabwe remains one of the countries that Xi has personally visited as president, although he has not returned there since 2015.

5. Egypt

Visits: January 2016 and September 2026

Egypt is the only African country Xi has visited twice outside South Africa.

His first visit took place in January 2016 as part of a Middle East tour. At the time, Egypt was described by Chinese officials as the first Arab and African country to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China.

Xi returned to Cairo in September 2026 for a state visit at the invitation of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.

During the 2026 visit, the two governments witnessed the signing of cooperation documents covering areas including Belt and Road cooperation, artificial intelligence, trade and industrial supply chains.

Xi also visited the Grand Egyptian Museum during the trip.

6. Senegal

Visit: July 2018

Senegal became one of Xi's destinations during his major African tour in July 2018.

He visited Dakar and held talks with President Macky Sall.

The trip was part of a four-country African itinerary that also included Rwanda, South Africa and Mauritius. It was Xi's first major African tour after being re-elected president in 2018.

The Senegal visit also highlighted China's growing economic and infrastructure relationship with West Africa.

7. Rwanda

Visit: July 2018

Xi visited Rwanda immediately after Senegal during the same 2018 African tour.

His visit was particularly notable because he became the first Chinese head of state to visit Rwanda.

Xi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame held talks in Kigali covering bilateral cooperation and relations between the two countries.

The visit added Rwanda to a relatively small group of African countries personally visited by China's president.

8. Mauritius

Visit: July 2018

Mauritius was the final African stop on Xi's 2018 tour.

After attending the BRICS summit in South Africa, Xi travelled to Port Louis for a friendly visit.

The Indian Ocean island became the ninth African country to appear on Xi's presidential travel record. His visit included meetings with Mauritian leaders and discussions on bilateral relations.

9. Morocco

Visit: November 2024

Morocco requires a small but important distinction.

Xi did physically enter Morocco in November 2024, but he did not make a formal state visit there.

On November 21, 2024, while returning to China after his state visit to Brazil, Xi's aircraft made a technical stopover in Casablanca.

Moroccan Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan and Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch went to the airport to welcome him, and Xi held a conversation with the crown prince.

China's Foreign Ministry explicitly describes the event as a technical stopover rather than a state visit.

That distinction matters when counting countries he has "visited." If the question means countries where Xi has physically set foot as president, Morocco belongs on the list.

If the question is restricted to formal presidential/state visits, Morocco should be excluded.

The Complete List

As of October 2026, Xi Jinping has physically visited nine African countries as president:

Tanzania — 2013

South Africa — 2013, 2015, 2018 and 2023

Republic of the Congo — 2013

Zimbabwe — 2015

Egypt — 2016 and 2026

Senegal — 2018

Rwanda — 2018

Mauritius — 2018

Morocco — 2024 technical stopover

That gives Xi nine African countries visited, with South Africa having the most presidential visits at four and Egypt coming second with two.

What About 2024 and 2025?

Xi did not make a formal African tour during 2024 or 2025.

However, his engagement with African governments continued through diplomacy in Beijing. At the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation summit in Beijing, Xi met African leaders and announced new partnership measures covering areas including trade, infrastructure, agriculture, education and development.

This is important because China's engagement with Africa is considerably broader than Xi's personal travel schedule.

Methodology

This list counts African countries Xi Jinping physically entered while serving as President of the People's Republic of China from March 2013 to current.

Formal state visits, summit-related visits and friendly visits are included. Morocco is included because Xi physically stopped in Casablanca in 2024, but it is clearly identified as a technical stopover rather than a formal state visit.

Meetings with African leaders in China are not counted, and neither are visits by other Chinese officials.

The historical itinerary was cross-checked against Chinese government and Foreign Ministry records, including China's official summary of Xi's five major African tours and records of his 2023 South Africa visit and 2026 Egypt visit.