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Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –
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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News
Durban, South Africa, January 11 (Xinhua) — Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Sunday that China will deepen cooperation with Somalia in economic, trade, security, defense and other fields, utilize the Year of China-Africa Cultural and People-to-People Exchanges to strengthen friendly ties, and consolidate and develop the strategic partnership between the two countries.
Wang Yi, also a member of the Politburo of the CPC Central Committee, made the announcement during a telephone conversation with Somali Foreign Minister Abdisalam Abdi Ali during his visit to Africa.
The Chinese diplomat asked his Somali counterpart to convey warm greetings from Chinese leaders to Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre, stating that China welcomes Mohamud's visit to China this year to attend the 2nd China-Arab States Summit.
Emphasizing that China and Somalia enjoy traditionally friendly relations, Wang Yi stated that China is firmly committed to a friendly policy toward Somalia, and the two countries have always respected and supported each other. The China-Somalia strategic partnership is not affected by isolated events or temporary circumstances, he added.
According to the Chinese Foreign Minister, the Chinese side highly values Somalia's commitment to the one-China principle, which is expressed through concrete actions. He assured that China will, as always, support Somalia in defending its state sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity, opposing attempts by "Somaliland" to achieve independence through collusion with the Taiwan administration.
As Wang Yi noted, China's diplomacy has always firmly stood on the side of developing countries, upholding fairness and justice, and advocating for small and medium-sized countries.
He said China fully supports Somalia in its role as rotating chair of the UN Security Council this month and is ready to work with it to fulfill its responsibilities in maintaining world peace and security.
China believes that Somalia will achieve development and prosperity and turn the Horn of Africa region into an area of peace, development and cooperation, Wang Yi added.
Abdisalam Abdi Ali, for his part, pointed out that Somalia highly appreciates the fact that Chinese foreign ministers annually choose Africa as the destination of their first foreign visit.
Noting the traditional friendship between the two countries, he emphasized that developing relations with China is a firm strategic choice for Somalia.
The Somali side sincerely thanks China for its support of Somalia in defending its state sovereignty and territorial integrity, for countering any acts of separatism and terrorism, and for its assistance in achieving national stability and development, the Somali minister stated.
He assured that Somalia strictly adheres to the one-China principle, considers Taiwan an integral part of Chinese territory, and views the Taiwan issue as an exclusively internal matter of the PRC.
The Somali Foreign Minister noted that his country highly values the four major global initiatives put forward by Chinese President Xi Jinping and is willing to deepen exchanges and cooperation with China in all fields, promote peace and development in Somalia, promote lasting peace in the Horn of Africa region, and jointly build a community with a shared future for mankind.
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