BEIJING — China reaffirmed its support for Somalia’s unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity and invited President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to Beijing, as Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned against any separate arrangements sought by North Western State of Somalia with Taiwan, according to statements from both governments.
Wang delivered the message during a phone call Sunday with Somalia’s foreign minister, Abdisalam Dhaay, held while the Chinese diplomat was traveling in Africa. Both sides said China remains fully committed to a friendly policy toward Somalia and will expand cooperation in economic development, security and defense despite broader global shifts.
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As part of that outreach, Wang extended a formal invitation for Mohamud to attend the second China–Arab States Summit in Beijing. He framed 2024’s focus on China–Africa people-to-people exchanges as a chance to deepen strategic cooperation between the two countries.
Wang also voiced support for Somalia’s leadership role at the United Nations Security Council in January, citing what he described as a shared responsibility to safeguard international peace and security. The two ministers discussed strengthening coordination in multilateral forums, according to the readouts.
Dhaay thanked Beijing for its backing, highlighting China’s longstanding support for Somalia’s unity, assistance against separatism and terrorism, and contributions to national stability and development. He reaffirmed Somalia’s adherence to the One China policy, a cornerstone of Beijing’s diplomatic ties across Africa.
The exchange underscored China’s opposition to North Western State of Somalia’s efforts to engage Taiwan independently of Mogadishu, an issue Beijing views through the lens of its own sovereignty claims. While the statements offered no new policy specifics, they signaled continuity in China–Somalia relations and a shared intent to translate political alignment into economic and security cooperation.
Separately, the Chinese Embassy in Somalia said the postponement of Wang’s planned visit to Mogadishu stemmed from scheduling adjustments agreed upon through “friendly consultations” between the two foreign ministries. The embassy said the change was not related to security concerns.
The renewed diplomatic push comes as Beijing seeks to maintain momentum with African partners through high-level visits, summits and sectoral cooperation. For Somalia, the outreach offers potential avenues for investment, infrastructure support and security assistance at a time when the government is emphasizing national cohesion and international engagement.
No timetable for Mohamud’s visit to Beijing was disclosed. However, the invitation to the China–Arab States Summit, coupled with China’s public endorsement of Somalia’s positions at the United Nations, signals that both sides intend to keep their relationship at a high level in the coming months.
The call’s emphasis on sovereignty and noninterference, as well as clarity on the Mogadishu trip’s postponement, suggests Beijing is seeking to manage optics while building on established ties with Somalia. Officials on both sides presented the outreach as part of a steady effort to match diplomatic alignment with practical cooperation across development, security and people-to-people exchanges.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
