WASHINGTON, April 25 (Xinhua) — U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will kick off a visit to Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Angola next week, with focus on democratic development, peace and security as well as trade and investment, the State Department said on Friday.

During his trip, which runs from April 29 until May 5, Kerry will “encourage democratic development, promote respect for human rights, advance peace and security, engage with civil society and young African leaders who will shape the continent’s future, and promote trade, investment and development partnerships in Africa,” the agency said in a statement.

On top of bilateral talks with leaders of the three nations, the top American envoy will attend the fourth session of the U.S.- AU (African Union) High-Level Dialogue in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital.

The Obama administration is scheduled to host the first ever U. S.-Africa summit in Washington, D.C. on Aug. 5-6, in a bid to strengthen its political and economic ties with the continent.

President Barack Obama visited Senegal, South Africa and Tanzania last summer.