On January 5, 2022 local time, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Eritrea Osman Saleh Mohammed in Asmara.
Wang Yi said, it has been 32 years in a row for Chinese foreign ministers to visit Africa at the beginning of the year. This demonstrates the solidarity and cooperation between China and Africa, and also shows that China's diplomacy always stands on the side of developing countries. Eritrea is the first country on this tour to Africa. China cherishes its traditional friendship with Eritrea and is willing to open up new prospects for the development of bilateral relations. The greatest outcome of this visit is that the two sides reached a consensus and the two heads of state have made major political decisions to elevate China-Eritrea relations to the strategic partnership, which serves the fundamental and long-term interests of the two countries and two peoples. China would like to take this opportunity to advance bilateral all-around mutually beneficial cooperation, open a new chapter in bilateral relations and bring more benefits to the two peoples. The two sides should strengthen the synergy of the "nine programs" put forward at the Eighth Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation to inject strong impetus into future cooperation.
Wang Yi said, as strategic partners, China and Eritrea should more firmly support each other on issues concerning each other's core interests and major concerns. We should strengthen coordination and cooperation in international and multilateral affairs, hold high the banner of multilateralism, and oppose hegemony and power politics. We stay committed to promoting democracy in international relations and safeguarding international fairness and justice. China will always stand by our African brothers, and China's vote in the United Nations always belongs to developing countries.
Osman said, the establishment of the strategic partnership between Eritrea and China will push bilateral relations to a new height. Eritrea fully agrees with the "nine programs" initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping, and is ready to work with China to align and implement the cooperation framework plan, strengthen cooperation in infrastructure, ports, industrial parks and other fields, and translate the willingness of cooperation into tangible results. Eritrea and China share common ideas on issues such as peace and stability, sovereignty and independence, mutually beneficial development, and equity and justice. Eritrea firmly pursues the one-China policy and supports China's just position on issues related to China's Taiwan, Hong Kong, Xinjiang, and the South China Sea. It is Eritrea's long-standing tradition to stand with China. Eritrea is ready to strengthen coordination and cooperation with China to jointly safeguard the legitimate interests of developing countries.
Following the talks, the two sides signed the Joint Statement by Foreign Ministers of China and Eritrea.
