Wang Yi and Djibouti's Foreign Minister Issue Joint Communiqué: the Horn of Africa Must Not Become a Geopolitical Arena
At the Foreign Ministry's regular press briefing on October 22, spokesperson Mao Ning said that on October 21 Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks in Beijing with Abdoulkader Houssein Omar, Djibouti's Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, exchanging views in depth on the situation in the Horn of Africa and the safety of the Red Sea shipping lanes, and that the two sides jointly issued a press communiqué on safeguarding peace and stability in the Horn of Africa and the security of navigation in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
Mao said both sides agreed that the recent escalation in the Red Sea poses a serious threat to the global economy, especially the economic activities of the countries of the Horn of Africa, and aggravates security problems such as piracy and terrorism. Neither side wants regional tensions to spill further toward the Red Sea, and both called on all parties to abide by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and the basic norms of international law, and to avoid escalation through dialogue and diplomacy. Both sides held that the Horn of Africa must never be turned into an arena of geopolitical games, and that the fires of the Middle East conflict must not be allowed to spread to the Horn of Africa. Both stressed the importance of safeguarding freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and that merchant vessels' right to navigate under international law should be respected.
Mao said both sides held that easing the situation in the Middle East is key to addressing the security challenges in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea, reaffirmed support for the Palestinian people in restoring their legitimate national rights, called for faithful implementation of the ceasefire agreement and genuine, lasting peace in Gaza, and for implementing the two-state solution set out in relevant UN resolutions and resolving the conflict peacefully through diplomacy. The Djiboutian side expressed appreciation for President Xi Jinping's series of initiatives on promoting peace and security in the Middle East and the four principles for the constructive engagement of all parties in resolving African hotspot issues, and supported China playing a constructive role on Middle East issues.
Reuters also reported the joint communiqué on October 22, saying the two countries stated that all nations should enjoy freedom of navigation in the Red Sea. (GSM, based on the Foreign Ministry's October 22 briefing and Reuters reporting.)
(Pictured: a container ship, file photo.)
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: Wikimedia Commons · Arizonaman1 · CC0
