Saturday August 24, 2024
Mogadishu (HOL) — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud received the credentials of Wang Yu, the new Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to Somalia, at the Presidential Palace on Wednesday.
During the meeting, Mohamud commended the new Chinese Ambassador's desire to promote ties between Somalia and China, pointing out the importance of strengthening the strategic cooperation between the two countries, particularly in economic development, trade, and security.
"Somalia places great importance on its partnership with China and is prepared to work closely with China to expand our friendly cooperation and elevate bilateral relations continuously," President Mohamud said in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia.
Ambassador Wang Yu expressed China's readiness to collaborate with Somalia, emphasizing Beijing's intent to build on the consensus reached by the two countries to elevate their relationship to new heights.
Wang Yu succeeds Fei Shengchao, who has served as the Chinese Ambassador to Somalia since September 2021.
Following the presentation of his credentials, Ambassador Wang held a phone conversation with Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre and paid a courtesy visit to Ibrahim, Acting Speaker of the Upper House of the Federal Parliament of Somalia. He also met with Somalia's Minister of Information, Culture, and Tourism, Daud Aweis Jama.
Somalia's Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Amb. Ahmed Moallim Fiqi congratulated Wang Yu on his appointment, expressing appreciation for China's support. He emphasized the importance of strengthening ties in economic development, infrastructure, and capacity-building while voicing optimism for expanded trade, education, and technology cooperation.
Somalia will attend the ninth Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Beijing from September 4 to 6. This forum occurs at a crucial time when young Africans increasingly demand equity, fairness, and transparency in their governments' relations with external powers. President Xi Jinping is expected to attend the summit's opening ceremony, highlighting the significance of China-Africa relations at this critical juncture.