The Minister of Defence, H.E. Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, held a bilateral meeting in Beijing with the Minister of National Defence of the People’s Republic of China, Admiral Dong Jun, on the sidelines of the Xiangshan International Defence Forum.
This was the first defence ministerial-level meeting between the two nations in nearly 40 years, marking a new chapter in the strategic partnership between Somalia and China.
Minister Fiqi briefed his counterpart on the significant progress Somalia has achieved in the fields of security and defence, noting that Somali forces have liberated vast areas previously under the control of terrorist groups and advanced in stabilising key regions across the country.
For his part, China’s Defence Minister, Admiral Dong Jun, commended Somalia’s progress and the positive trajectory of its reforms, describing them as “concrete steps of hope and stability that reflect Somalia’s determination to rebuild security and strengthen its national defence institutions.”
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to deepening cooperation and partnership, with a focus on regional stability, counter-terrorism, support to the AUSSOM mission, and enhancing the capabilities of the Somali National Armed Forces, in order to ensure lasting peace and security in Somalia and the wider Horn of Africa.
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