The visit aims to “deepen state-to-state friendship, mutual trust and cooperation” between the two sides, the ministry statement said.
The minister is due to also visit Djibouti, Ghana and Senegal.
The ministry’s statement cited spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry Qin Gang as having said that it has been a tradition since 1991 for Chinese foreign ministers to first visit Africa every New Year.
Ethiopia and China established diplomatic relations in 1970.
The visit comes as Addis Ababa hosts talks between warring rivals in South Sudan. Face-to-face talks are expected to start for the first time within moments.
The Inter-governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), which is leading mediation efforts between the rival factions in South Sudan, formed a new mediation team, including Ethiopia's ambassador to China Seyoum Mesfin.
China’s oil companies have large investments in the oil-rich states in South Sudan, and a Chinese envoy is said to be actively involved in the Addis Ababa talks.
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