By Staff writer
The Chinese Embassy in Juba hosted a reception honouring the 96th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Liberation Army of China (PLA) on July 25, 2023.
The reception was attended by the Chinese Ambassador MQ Qiang, the Defence Attaché WANG Zeping, the South Sudanese Acting Minister of Defence Victor Atem, the Minister of Wildlife Conservation and Tourism Rizik Zakaria Hassan, other South Sudanese military and government officials, and members of the Chinese community.
In his speech, Amb. MA Qiang emphasized that the PLA has made immeasurable and indelible contributions over the past 96 years since its founding, from the realization of freedom and liberation for the Chinese people, to pursuing peaceful development through reform and opening-up of China, and to defending the sovereignty, security, and development interests of the country.
“Today, the PLA remains a “guardian” for the Chinese people in their pursuit of a safe home and a better life, providing strong support for the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation,” he said.
The ambassador further said the PLA will continue to be dedicated to upholding its international obligations as the armed forces of a significant country, despite the fact that the world is going through significant changes that haven’t been witnessed in a century and has entered a developmental phase in which uncertainties and unknown elements are on the rise.
“China is steadfast in pursuing an independent foreign policy of peace and will keep moving forward on a road of peaceful development.”
The head of mission stressed that China promotes the idea of shared, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security and urges all nations to work together to protect international peace and security.
Amb. MA emphasized that China’s military has consistently played a key role in preserving regional and global peace.
Currently, 1,050 Chinese peacekeepers are fulfilling their mandates in South Sudan. They have carried out security patrols, completed the construction of main support routes, provided medical services and donated humane materials in various regions of South Sudan, playing an important role in maintaining peace, promoting development and improving people’s livelihood.
China supports South Sudan in restoring national peace and promoting economic development with concrete assistance to the best of its ability.
South Sudan’s Acting Minister of Defense Victor Atem congratulated the People’s Liberation Army of China on celebrating its 96th anniversary.
He said that the people of South Sudan borrowed experience from China to fight for their independence.
“Today, China and South Sudan have enjoyed cordial cooperative relations in various areas and military-to-military exchanges in all forms have flourished,” he said.
“The South Sudanese side expressed its appreciation to China for its assistance in military capacity building, implementation of security arrangements in the peace process, economic development, and improvement of people’s livelihood, and looked forward to deepening military-to-military cooperation between the two countries.”
South Sudan’s Minister of Wildlife Conservation and Tourism Rizik Zakaria Hassan delivered remarks on behalf of the South Sudanese government and President Salva Kiir Mayardit, emphasizing that under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, the People’s Liberation Army united the Chinese people to carry out great struggles, setting an excellent and historic example.
“The South Sudanese government appreciates with satisfaction the relationship between the two countries and thanked China for its great contributions.”
He said South Sudan will continue to firmly support the one-China principle, stay committed to deepening friendly bilateral relations, and stands ready to actively promote cooperation under the frameworks including the Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative, and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, to further move South Sudan-China relations forward.