China’s diplomatic calendar opened with an unusually dense stream of foreign visits and public exchanges, from neighbouring leaders to European and North American prime ministers. In the first weeks of 2026 Beijing received Pakistan’s deputy prime minister and foreign minister Dar, South Korean president Lee Jae‑myung, Ireland’s prime minister Martin and Canada’s prime minister Kani, alongside a series of congratulatory messages and exchanges between President Xi Jinping and other world leaders.
The pattern is deliberate. Beijing’s January welcomes put neighbours front and centre — the first visiting foreign minister and the first head of state received this year were both from countries on China’s periphery — while simultaneously reaching outward to Europe, North America and Africa. China’s foreign minister Wang Yi also upheld a 36‑year tradition by making Africa his first overseas stop of the year, marking the 70th anniversary of China‑Africa diplomatic ties and underscoring Beijing’s long‑term investments on the continent.
The visits have produced tangible outcomes as well as symbolism. Xi proposed building a “new type” of China‑Canada strategic partnership during his meeting with Prime Minister Kani, and bilateral teams signed multiple cooperation documents with Seoul while leaders jointly witnessed the signing of 15 agreements. Chinese officials have used the encounters to press an economic message — Beijing welcomes foreign investment and promises market access and cooperation to global firms.
At the same time, Beijing has signalled firm stances on high‑stakes international security questions. Chinese diplomats publicly opposed the use of force and unilateral coercion in recent discussions about Venezuela and issued warnings against a return to “the law of the jungle” in calls with Iranian counterparts. Those statements frame China as a defender of sovereign prerogatives while courting countries across competing geopolitical blocs.
Analysts see both continuity and novelty in the rush of early‑year diplomacy. Longstanding practices — the foreign minister’s Africa trip, annual exchanges with longstanding partners — coexist with several “firsts”: the first European leader to visit China this year, first visits by newly installed leaders, and a pattern of face‑to‑face summits intended to set policy directions at the start of the year. Beijing presents the mix as evidence of growing influence, and foreign interlocutors appear eager to secure ties and economic cooperation amid a cooling global economy.
For an international audience the campaign is consequential. China is using the opening weeks of 2026 to consolidate economic and political relationships, reassure partners over market access, and project stability and influence in a turbulent world. The emphasis on neighbours, coupled with outreach to Europe, North America and Africa, signals a Beijing that is both prioritising regional management and competing for global partnerships on trade and development terms favourable to its aims.