Somalia

Note: This column mainly includes countries along the Belt and Road and countries that have signed cooperation agreements with China on Belt and Road Initiative.

In 2013, the friendly and cooperative relationship between the People's Republic of China and the Federal Republic of Somalia continued to strengthen.

From 22 to 28 August, Somali Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Fowsia Yusuf Haji Adan paid an official visit to China. Vice Premier Wang Yang and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met and held talks with her respectively. From 9 to 10 September, Chinese Ambassador to Kenya Liu Guangyuan paid a working visit to Somalia. During the visit, he met with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and held a working session with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Fowsia.

China continued to support international efforts to promote the Somali peace process. China provided additional assistance to the Somali federal government and the African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM). Ambassador Zhong Jianhua, Chinese Government Special Representative for African Affairs, attended the Second Somalia Conference in London and the High Level Conference on a New Deal for Somalia hosted by the European Union. China also sent a delegation to the meeting of the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS). The Somali government remained firmly committed to the one-China policy, supported China on major issues and elections in international organizations and committed itself to expanding cooperation with China in various fields.

China began to dispatch escort fleets to the Gulf of Aden and the waters off the coast of Somalia in late 2008. By the end of 2013, China had sent 16 fleets which escorted more than 5,300 Chinese and foreign vessels.