BY ASHENAFI ANIMUT
ADDIS ABABA-The Republic of China announced that it is ready to work with Horn of Africa (HoA) countries and to play constructive role in development of the region with a shared future, Special Envoy said.
In his press briefing held recently, Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Affairs, Xue Bing stated that the key to achieving long-term stability, development and prosperity in the HoA is to get rid of the interference of geopolitical games outside the region.
“Unity and independently respond to the triple challenges of security, development and governance in the region is crucial. Dialogue and consultation accelerates the regional integration and also helps regional countries to get rid of external interference and take the future into their own hands,” he said.
Xue stressed that, China has no self-interest in the HoA, or any other region in the world and it respects the freedom of people in various regions and countries as the masters of their own and oppose geopolitical competition by external forces.
So far, China has been working with countries of the region to promote early outcomes of the peaceful development in the region. It will be a promoter of security and stability, partner for development and prosperity and supporter of the Horn of Africa’s development through solidarity, he noted.
“China always supports the people in the HoA in independently exploring their development paths and supports HoA countries in resolving differences through dialogue and consultation to jointly promote lasting peace and stability in the region,” he reiterated.
Xue further stated that his country has no intention to and will not seek to fill the so-called vacuum or put up exclusive blocs. Rather, it believes that the future of the Horn of Africa should always be in the hands of the countries in the region.
Accordingly, during a recent visit to Ethiopia, Foreign Minister Qin Gang reaffirmed the willingness and determination of the peace and development in HoA in supporting and seeking strength through unity to achieve development and prosperity by regional countries.
The Ethiopian March 17/2023
