The Chinese embassy in South Sudan and the Juba City Council authorities in the youngest nation have vowed to strengthen people-to-people relations in order to boost trade and development.
This was revealed on Saturday by Ma Qiang the Chinese Ambassador to South Sudan in Juba, the capital of South Sudan during the 2023 Chinese New Year reception held at the Chinese Embassy.
“In the New Year, the Chinese embassy will continue to make every effort to promote the healthy and stable development of China-South Sudan relations, adhere to the people-centered development philosophy, and try our level best to address the needs, concerns and expectations of the Chinese compatriots in South Sudan,” said Ma.
In weeks’ time Chinese people will be celebrating their Spring Festival, a time for ushering in the lunar New Year.
Ma said this year’s occasion is the first large-scale event held by the embassy since the outbreak of COVID-19 three years ago.
“I would like to extend my special thanks to Mayor Lado for his efforts. We hope that the Juba City Council will continue to support Chinese enterprises, steadily improve the business environment, and promote the vitality of business so as to achieve mutual benefits and win-win cooperation for both sides,” he said.
Members of the 9th Chinese Peacekeeping Infantry battalion perform during the 2023 Chinese New Year Reception.
Ma said China adheres to the right course of economic globalization, and it strives to create new opportunities for the world with it’s own development, delivering greater benefits to all peoples.
He said Beijing has already signed Belt and Road cooperation documents with 150 countries, including South Sudan, and 32 international organizations.
“China has successfully held the China International Import Expo, to which African countries are invited to participate and share the huge opportunities in China’s enormous market. South Sudan’s sesame, yam, Arabic gum, honey, and other products have also aroused much interest from customers during the exhibitions in China,” said Ma.
In September last year, the Juba City Council, the Chinese embassy, the Chinese Business Association, the Overseas Chinese Association in South Sudan jointly held a workshop on investment, which provided policy guidance for Chinese enterprises.
The envoy listed the various in-kind assistance provided by China in South Sudan like providing food and medicines to the necessary unified forces, medical teams to providing assistance and training in Juba Teaching Hospital, the modernization of South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation facilities, Jur River Bridge in Wau, and the Technical Cooperation Project of Education among other China-aided projects.
“After the outbreak of COVID-19 in early 2020, Chinese compatriots in South Sudan acted quickly to donate money and medical supplies to their motherland and to South Sudan, showing their sincere feelings of patriotism, care for their hometown, and love for South Sudan as their second home,” said Ma.
Allah Jabu Lado, the Mayor of Juba City Council hailed the Chinese embassy for the commendable efforts in strengthening bilateral ties between the governments of China and South Sudan over the past years.
“As for the Chinese citizens I thank you for being peaceful, faithful, and hardworking residents of Juba City Council, I thank you for supporting our government’s developmental plans and I thank you for always participating in our economic development projects and activities all over South Sudan,” said Lado.
He assured full support for Chinese nationals from the Juba City Council administration.
In addition, Lado said a special unit for Chinese affairs is to be established with Juba City Council to handle issues of Chinese nationals doing business in the capital.
“Therefore, due to the importance of our relationship with China I declare the establishment of a special unit within my office to coordinate Chinese affairs in collaboration with the ministry of foreign affairs in Juba,” he said.
