Premier Li Keqiang has just concluded a tightly scheduled and fruitful visit to Africa. The trip has drawn high attention from media around the world.

　　According to a list of the "Top Ten Quotes" from the World Economic Forum on Africa compiled by Forbes magazine's website, two of the ten most impressive quotes at the gathering of nearly a thousand global and regional elites came from the Chinese Premier. Hong Kong Commercial Daily commented recently: "Li Keqiang's eight-day visit to four countries and over a hundred events has brought nothing short of a 'Chinese whirlwind' to Africa."

　　Attending Despite Terror Threats, Winning High Praise

　　On the eve of Li Keqiang's visit to Africa, Nigeria was hit by a series of terrorist attacks, including a bombing in Abuja and the abduction of schoolgirls. Some foreign leaders canceled their visits to Nigeria or their attendance at the World Economic Forum on Africa. However, Li Keqiang insisted on sticking to his original schedule and arrived as promised, giving the Nigerian government and the organizers of the forum a "reassurance" and earning high praise from African countries and the international community.

　　The Nigerian President told the media, "China is a friend of Africa through thick and thin." Nigerian Foreign Minister Wali noted that Premier Li's visit to Nigeria as planned, at a time when the country's domestic security situation was severe and the government faced enormous public pressure, demonstrated that China-Nigeria relations can withstand the test of adversity. The Nigerian leadership decided to receive Premier Li with the highest protocol, and the actual results of the visit proved this was entirely correct.

　　Nigeria's Guardian published a commentary stating that President Jonathan, during talks with Premier Li and while hosting a welcome dinner, repeatedly emphasized "a friend in need is a friend indeed," which is fitting praise for Premier Li and the Chinese government and people. Premier Li's visit saved Nigeria from the embarrassment of having to postpone the World Economic Forum on Africa and further strengthened Nigeria's confidence in addressing current domestic security challenges and building a unified and prosperous country. "Nigeria should be proud to have a friend like China."

　　Macao Daily News said that Nigeria had recently suffered terrorist attacks, yet Premier Li Keqiang still visited as scheduled, fully proving that China is a reliable friend of Nigeria through thick and thin. Hong Kong Commercial Daily said that after first visiting Ethiopia, the highest plateau country in Africa with difficult conditions and lagging development, Li Keqiang lost no time in launching a series of diplomatic activities in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria, where the security situation was severe. The article commented that the Premier's trip could be described as "from the highest plateau in Africa to the most dangerous place in the world."

　　A "Shot in the Arm" for Chinese Enterprises and Citizens Overseas

　　Hong Kong's Wen Wei Po believed that throughout Premier Li Keqiang's Africa tour, the safety and security of local Chinese citizens had always been one of the key topics. During his visits to Ethiopia and Nigeria, Li Keqiang repeatedly mentioned the safety of Chinese citizens, saying "this is a livelihood issue and the country's top priority." On May 8, in Luanda, the capital of Angola, Li Keqiang held a symposium on overseas livelihood projects, stressing that "we must effectively safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of our enterprises and citizens overseas" and that "consular protection must follow the footsteps of our compatriots."

　　Wen Wei Po cited analysts' comments that, as Africa's strategic significance continues to rise and the number of Chinese citizens in Africa exceeds one million, the safety and security of Chinese citizens in Africa has become an indispensable part of China's Africa strategy.

　　Hong Kong's Ta Kung Pao also published an article stating that Premier Li Keqiang said in Angola that China will strengthen its overseas consular protection forces and increase efforts to protect the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese-funded enterprises and the personal safety of Chinese citizens overseas. Experts generally believe that the Chinese leadership's choice to discuss overseas citizen safety in Angola is targeted, and China's protection of overseas citizens is expected to reach a new height.

　　Some commentaries noted that the Premier's commitment "injected a shot in the arm" for Chinese enterprises and citizens seeking development in Africa and other countries overseas. Liu Haifang, deputy director of the Center for African Studies at Peking University, believes that China's previous joint law enforcement operations in Angola have strong reference value for China's protection of overseas citizens, and Premier Li's visit to Angola is expected to further promote this experience.

　　"High-Speed Rail Salesman" Secures Major Deals

　　Li Keqiang, hailed by the media as "China's high-speed rail salesman," once again made "high-speed rail diplomacy" one of the highlights of his Africa visit. Hong Kong's Wen Wei Po said that Premier Li Keqiang, during his visit to Africa, continued to spare no effort in promoting "high-speed rail diplomacy," personally acting as a salesman for China's high-speed rail and achieving fruitful results. According to China Railway Construction Corporation, its subsidiary CCECC signed a framework contract with Nigeria's Ministry of Transport for the coastal railway project, with a total value of 80.779 billion yuan, using Chinese railway technical standards throughout, which "will set a new record for Chinese enterprises' overseas projects."

　　Hong Kong's China News Service commented that from high-speed rail to aircraft to infrastructure construction, promoting China-Africa industrial cooperation and opening African markets for Chinese enterprises became important core topics of Li's visit. Against the backdrop of China's economic transformation and upgrading, Africa's role in supporting China's economy is continuously becoming more prominent. Li Keqiang's visit to Africa will inevitably bring more business opportunities for Chinese enterprises entering Africa, and bilateral cooperation will surely be comprehensively upgraded.

　　Taiwan's Want Daily believed that Premier Li Keqiang actively promoted China's high-speed rail during his recent Africa visit, once again creating a "high-speed rail diplomacy" whirlwind in Africa after previous efforts in Thailand and Eastern European countries. A high-speed rail globalization strategy led by the mainland is poised to take off.

　　Hong Kong Commercial Daily commented that under Premier Li Keqiang's promotion, "high-speed rail diplomacy" has become a "Chinese calling card," changing the old impression of China exchanging shirts and socks made with "low productivity" for high-value-added aircraft and computers. China can use overseas high-speed rail projects to drive the vigorous development of the domestic high-speed rail industry chain; more importantly, China will share economic achievements with all interconnected nodes in the global high-speed rail network; as a standard-setter, China will also be the biggest winner.

　　"Upgraded China-Africa Cooperation" Wins Broad Resonance

　　From proposing "three poles" and the "461 framework" in his speech at the African Union, to attending the plenary session of the World Economic Forum on Africa and delivering a special address explaining that China will help Africa build the "three major networks" of infrastructure and emphasizing the "three noes" principle of China-Africa cooperation, the new concept of an "upgraded China-Africa cooperation" constructed by Premier Li Keqiang has won broad resonance from the African side and the media.

　　Nigeria's Guardian said that in his speech at the AU Conference Center, Premier Li regarded Africa as an important pole of world politics, economy, and civilization, and Africa will "no longer be forgotten." The People's Daily said that Premier Li emphasized that China's cooperation with Africa adheres to the principles of "no political conditions attached, no interference in African countries' internal affairs, and no demands beyond Africa's capacity," which is in line with Premier Zhou Enlai's "Eight Principles for Aid to Africa." The new type of China-Africa partnership will yield even more fruitful results under the new framework proposed by Premier Li.

　　Hong Kong Economic Times said that Li Keqiang's first Africa trip after taking office, especially his special visit to the African Union headquarters and attendance at the World Economic Forum on Africa, aimed to rebut Western, especially American, media claims that China is practicing "neo-colonialism" in Africa. Hong Kong's South China Morning Post believed that the Premier's statements during the Africa visit showed that China will pay more attention to improving the overall living standards of African people in the future. France's Les Echos and Germany's Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung noted that Li Keqiang promised to let "Beautiful China" and "Green Africa" go hand in hand. "Premier Li Keqiang's first Africa trip once again followed China's effective strategy among emerging industrial countries and developing countries."

　　Hong Kong Commercial Daily said that Li Keqiang's Africa visit consolidated the foundation for upgraded China-Africa cooperation, heralded the wonderful prospects of future deep cooperation, and greatly enhanced mutual trust and friendship between China and Africa. AFP, RIA Novosti, and The Ethiopian Herald also published commentaries believing that Africa is one of China's top diplomatic priorities, and the Chinese Premier's visit to Africa highlighted Africa's importance to China. Li Keqiang's Africa trip will inject new impetus into China-Africa cooperation.

　　Diplomatic Style "Brings the World Closer to China"

　　Regarding the overall performance of the Chinese Premier's visit, Hong Kong's China News Service published a commentary saying that from visiting beneficiaries of the "Brightness Action" program and personally removing bandages for eye patients, to tightening screws with workers, Premier Li Keqiang's public diplomacy activities during his Africa visit were colorful and effectively conveyed China's foreign policy, bringing Africa and the world closer to China.

　　Britain's Reuters cited a person familiar with China's foreign policy as saying that Li Keqiang, a Peking University graduate, is proficient in English and "can better understand Western thinking." Some Hong Kong media noted that after Li Keqiang and his wife arrived in Addis Ababa, the first stop of their Africa tour, on the afternoon of the 4th local time, they "conversed directly in English without an interpreter" with Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam and his wife, who welcomed them at the airport. Cheng Hong, a university English professor, also communicated directly in English with the Hailemariams.

　　The diplomatic "debut" of Cheng Hong, the Premier's wife accompanying Li Keqiang on the visit, also drew widespread praise. The Wall Street Journal said Cheng Hong won goodwill with her fresh and natural style, and she and Li Keqiang looked "like a pair of Chinese scholars." Reuters commented that Ms. Cheng Hong's appearance on the world stage signifies China's new efforts to enhance soft power. Singapore's Lianhe Zaobao cited observers as saying that Li Keqiang's visit with his wife added a touch of "rose color" to the rigid arena of international politics and also won "bonus points" for the Premier's diplomacy.