Changsha, SOA — The Federal Republic of Somalia and the People’s Republic of China have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation in key development sectors during a high-level meeting between Somali Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Abdisalam Abdi Ali (Dhaay), and Chen Xiaodong, Chairman of the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), held in Changsha, Hunan Province.
The meeting focused on aligning future cooperation with Somalia’s National Transformation Plan, with particular emphasis on priority areas including human capital development, agriculture, healthcare, digital governance, and infrastructure.
Minister Abdisalam welcomed China’s ongoing development support and stressed the importance of ensuring that assistance remains sustainable, results-driven, and aligned with Somalia’s national ownership and priorities. He reiterated Somalia’s long-term vision for resilience, economic recovery, and inclusive growth, and called for more targeted collaboration to deliver measurable impact.
“We value China’s consistent support and look forward to advancing development partnerships that contribute meaningfully to Somalia’s national goals,” said the Minister.
Chairman Chen Xiaodong reaffirmed China’s commitment to supporting Somalia’s self-reliant development, highlighting CIDCA’s approach of delivering “small yet smart” and high-impact projects tailored to local needs. He pointed to the agency’s current focus on food security, public health, and technical education as key pillars of its engagement in Somalia and the wider Horn of Africa region.
The discussions also covered broader cooperation under the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) framework, with particular reference to the implementation of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s initiatives aimed at supporting African modernization and sustainable development.
Both delegations acknowledged the importance of translating bilateral goodwill into tangible improvements in the lives of Somali citizens. They underscored the need for joint planning, local ownership, and transparent implementation mechanisms to ensure the long-term success of development initiatives.
