XI JINPING VISITS RUSSIA, AFRICA IN FIRST INTERNATIONAL TRIP AS PRESIDENT

March 29, 2013

Less than one week after officially being named President of China, Xi Jinping embarked on his first international trip, making stops in Russia, Tanzania, South Africa, and the Republic of Congo. Many have speculated on the potential meaning behind the selection of these initial visits, with some suggesting they highlight new thinking and priorities in Chinese foreign policy. While there may indeed be significance in the coordinating of these visits, they also reflect a continuation of tradition.

Russia has typically been the first foreign destination for China