Mogadishu (SONNA): The President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, Dr. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, welcomed the Chinese language Ambassador to Somalia, Fei Shengchao, on the Presidential palace in the present day.
The 2 leaders mentioned the bilateral relations between Somalia and China, in addition to the regional and worldwide problems with mutual curiosity.
Ambassador Fei expressed China’s help for Somalia’s independence, unity and territorial integrity, and praised the progress made by the Somali authorities within the political, safety and financial fields.
President Mohamud thanked China for its constant and invaluable help to Somalia, and confused the significance of adhering to the worldwide legal guidelines and norms.
The assembly got here amid the escalating tensions between Somalia and Ethiopia, following the latter’s controversial settlement with Somaliland on 1 January 2024. The settlement would permit Ethiopia to lease a 20-kilometer stretch of Somaliland’s shoreline for its naval base, in change for recognizing Somaliland’s independence. The settlement has sparked protests throughout Somalia and Somaliland, with some residents fearing that it will compromise their sovereignty. China has lately voiced its solidarity with Somalia and urged Ethiopia to respect Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
