Wang Yi Talks about the "Concept of Peaceful Development in the Horn of Africa"

On January 6, 2022 local time, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Foreign Minister Omamo of Kenya jointly met the press in Mombasa. A reporter asked how China views the current situation in the Horn of Africa.

Wang Yi said that the Horn of Africa has a unique strategic location and huge development potential. However, in recent years, hotspot issues have intensified and conflicts have erupted from time to time. This phenomenon is completely incompatible with the interests of the people of the Horn of Africa and can no longer continue. In order to support the Horn of Africa in achieving long-term stability and peace and prosperity, China is willing to put forward the "Concept of Peaceful Development in the Horn of Africa" to support regional countries in responding to the triple challenges of security, development, and governance.

The first is to strengthen intra-domain dialogue and overcome security challenges. The countries and people of the Horn of Africa should get rid of the geopolitical rivalry between major powers and firmly follow the path of unity and self-reliance. Through consultation on an equal footing, the destiny of the region should be in our own hands. It is recommended that countries in the region convene the Horn of Africa Peace Conference to conduct in-depth discussions on this, form a political consensus, and coordinate joint actions. China is willing to appoint a special envoy for the Horn of Africa of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to provide necessary support for this process.

The second is to accelerate regional revitalization and overcome development challenges. Expanding and strengthening the two main axes of the Mombasa-Nairobi Railway and the Ya-Djibouti Railway in a timely manner to neighboring countries, while accelerating the development of the Red Sea coast and the East African coast, forming a "two-axis + cross-strait" development framework, accelerating the construction of an industrial belt economic belt, and creating More employment and growth, improve independent development capabilities, and keep pace with the times.

The third is to explore effective ways to overcome governance challenges. Support regional countries to explore development paths that suit their own national conditions, strengthen mutual exchanges on governance, share beneficial experiences, and break through governance bottlenecks. Properly handle various ethnic, religious, and regional disputes in an African way, and build a united, stable and harmonious development environment in the Horn of Africa.

Wang Yi emphasized that, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council and a sincere partner of Africa, China will deepen the alignment of the “Belt and Road” initiative with Africa’s development strategy, and steadily advance the “Nine Projects” of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation for peace and development in the Horn of Africa. Make unremitting efforts and play a constructive role.