Sunday December 21, 2025
MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia and China on Tuesday marked the 65th anniversary of their diplomatic relations with a ceremony in Mogadishu, pledging to elevate cooperation and pursue shared interests across infrastructure, public services and state-building as both countries reaffirmed long-standing political support.
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Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre called the milestone “a testament to enduring friendship” rooted in mutual respect and sovereignty. “We gathered to celebrate a truly historic milestone, 65 years of diplomatic relations between Somalia and China,” he said. “This is an important anniversary, a testament to enduring friendship between our two peoples, a friendship built on mutual respect, sovereignty and shared understanding.”
Barre said the relationship has held steady through regional and global shifts since 1960 and has yielded tangible gains at home. “Our cooperation has been practical and impactful,” he said. “It has supported infrastructure development, it has strengthened health, education, public services and capacity building and it has responded to humanitarian needs during difficult moments.”
Somalia-China relations, officials noted, have translated into support in several priority areas for the Horn of Africa nation. Key sectors highlighted at the event included:
- Infrastructure development and connectivity
- Health services and public health capacity
- Education and skills training
- Public administration and capacity building
- Humanitarian assistance during crises
Chinese Ambassador to Somalia Wang Yu said the establishment of ties on Dec. 14, 1960, opened “a new chapter” between the two countries at a pivotal moment. “That year Somalia became independent and China was among the first few countries to recognize it; meanwhile, Somalia was the first country in East Africa to establish diplomatic ties with China,” he said.
Wang underscored Beijing’s backing for Somalia’s political priorities and territorial integrity. He thanked Mogadishu for its consistent adherence to the one-China principle and said China would “continuously and firmly support Somalia’s efforts in safeguarding its national sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity.”
Both sides framed the anniversary as a platform to deepen practical cooperation and create new avenues for investment and development, echoing a theme of “mutually beneficial cooperation and common development” that has defined the relationship. While officials did not announce new initiatives at Tuesday’s event, they signaled a focus on projects that align with Somalia’s national priorities and long-term recovery, including critical infrastructure and institutional strengthening.
Somalia and China established formal diplomatic relations in the year Somalia gained independence, with Mogadishu becoming a pioneering partner for Beijing in East Africa. In the decades since, the two have maintained a steady engagement through periods of progress and challenge alike, with both governments casting the partnership as a pragmatic, stability-minded pillar of their foreign policy.
Tuesday’s commemoration in Mogadishu aimed to translate that history into momentum, as officials from both countries emphasized continuity, sovereignty and results. “Over decades, China has remained a trusted partner of Somalia,” Barre said, citing the country’s support for national development priorities and its belief in Somalia’s future.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
