UN official lauds China’s role in reconstruction of Somalia

NAIROBI, July 2 (Xinhua) — A senior United Nations (UN) humanitarian official on Thursday lauded China’s increasing role in the reconstruction of Somalia.

The outgoing UN Resident Coordinator for Somalia, Philippe Lazzarini, said Beijing has contributed immensely to the advancement of peace, stability and development in Somalia which has seen two decades of turmoil.

“China is definitely engaged in Somalia and has reopened an embassy in Mogadishu. The Chinese ambassador speaks fluent Somali and this is a testimony to blossoming cooperation,” Lazzarini told Xinhua during an interview in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi.

He noted that China has signed several bilateral agreements with Somalia which will help restore peace and promote development in the country.

China’s efforts to help Somalis rebuild their country has won acclaim from the international community, he said.

In October 2014, China reopened its embassy in the country after a 23-year hiatus due to civil war. President Hassan Sheikh and Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Ming attended the opening ceremony.

The two sides in April signed an agreement in which China promised donations to socio-economic development in the Horn of Africa nation.

War-torn Somalia is still suffering from the insurgency of militant group Al-Shabaab which has carried out waves of attacks and controls some rural areas in the country’s southern part.