Tuesday, September 03, 2013
Somalia says its relations with China is growing following a
week-long official visit by the country's foreign Minister Fawzia Yusuf
as she returned to the capital Mogadishu on Friday.
Fawzia, who is also deputy prime minister, said she met with top
Chinese officials to discuss ways of strengthening bilateral ties
between the two nations.
"We share historic relations with China and that relationship is
growing for the benefit of both of our nations," said Fawzia after she
arrived at the International Airport in Mogadishu.
Somalia said it wanted China to assist in its reconstruction as the
horn of Africa nation is reeling from more than two decades of civil
conflict which left the country's state infrastructure in ruins.
Speaking to Xinhua earlier this week, Somalia's State Minister for
Foreign Affairs Mohamed Nur Gaal said the Somali government attaches
great importance to its relations with China.
The Somali government invites the Chinese government and companies to
invest in the country as the East African country is witnessing a
relative stability for the past two years, Gaal said.
"Now that the country is stabilizing, the development needs
particularly in institution building and in infrastructure and social
services gain great prominence and these are the areas where China can
play a greater role," said Gaal.
"We also welcome investments from China as we make the regulatory
preparation to pave the way for foreign investment in Somalia," he
added.