China to sponsor a major peace conference for Horn of Africa

China has undertaken to organize a first ever peace and security convention on the situation in the Horn of Africa region this year.

This was revealed by the newly appointed Chinese envoy to the Horn of Africa region Ambassador Xue Bing at a press conference in Nairobi on Saturday. His media briefing in Kenya coming after visits to Ethiopia, Somalia, Djibouti and Eritrea. Kenya is his fifth stop.

Xue, who has officially started his tour of duty in the region after his posting early in the week, disclosed that his first assignment has been to seek views from the four countries about Chinese proposal on peace and security and to encourage them to come together as soon as possible to chart a way out of perennial conflicts.

“During my trip to these countries, I had meeting with Presidents, Prime Ministers, and Foreign Ministers. Yesterday, I met Kenya’s Principal Secretary in the ministry of Foreign Affairs Amb. Macharia Kamau. We had very good discussions.”

“The initial response from these countries is they have positively welcomed the Chinese proposal. They are to continue keeping a close contact so as to implement the outlook and hold the first peace conference in the first half of this year.” he said

The Chinese diplomat disclosed that the convention will be held on or before June and that one of Nairobi or Addis Ababa will host the conference.

“Ethiopia and Kenya undertook to be the first host of the peace conference. They encouraged China, a long traditional friend of the region, to continue to play more role not only in the economic and social progress area, but also in peace and security.” he said

Responding to questions are regards the significance of his positing, the envoy was categorical that even though China is keen to promote Africa’s economic and social development, peace and security remains a key pillar to their realization.

“The horn of Africa region is home to countries which have traditional relations with China. We are strategic partners. This area is strategically located and with abundant resources. The potential of development is huge.”

“At the same time, this area is full of issues around peace and security, like differences in the bordering areas, and issues such as ethnic and religious conflicts. Peace and security is important. This is why China put forward the proposal for peace and development in the horn of Africa.” Ambassador Xue Bing said

He says China is only interested in providing a platform for regional countries to come together to settle their differences, through consultation and negotiation. He says China will do so while respecting the sovereignty of these countries and will not in any way interfere with their internal affairs.

“The distinctive features of this proposal is that there is no interference in internal affairs of regional countries and also we believe in African solutions to African problems. So, although it is a proposal by the Chinese side, the regional countries are the leading players.” he assured

“They said China should do more and China has the ability to do more in this area. This area has long suffered the external relations from western countries. Some of the countries are just fed up with their foreign interventions. They are fed up with preaching from western countries. They said China respects us, China treats us as equals and they want to see china play more role – an active and constructive role and so we just answered a call of our friends in these countries.” the Chinese Horn of Africa region diplomat said

His said his appointment, the first to be made by Beijing, demonstrates the huge importance China attaches to the region.

Ambassador Xue previously worked in Nairobi at the Chinese Embassy for two years – almost 10 years ago, and he says he is delighted to be back even as he expressed optimism over his new role and its future prospects.

“I have been working in both developed and developing countries. Big ones and small ones. But no matter where I work, one thing is for sure, China foreign policy is consistent. It’s an independent foreign policy of peace. We believe that all countries, large and small, are equal members of the international community.” he said

He will be traveling to Uganda and South Sudan next.

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