Beijing, China( CNN) Chinese President Xi Jinping heads to Africa this week as Beijing moves to further cement its role as one of the continent's closest economic and diplomatic friends.
China is Africa's largest trading partner, overtaking the United Nation nearly a decade ago. Bilateral trade reached a record-high of $220 billion in 2014, official statistics show.
Chinese leaders have always made a point of visiting African nations regularly and early during their time in power. When he assumed the presidency in 2013, Xi also opted Africa as part of his maid journey abroad and went on to visit the continent two more hours during his first term.
