By Bida Elly David
Government of China has promised to donate food items in a bid to mitigate the humanitarian crisis facing refugees in South Sudan.
Charge d’affaires of Embassy of China in South Sudan, Ma Wenjun informed deputy minister of foreign affairs, Ramadhan Mohamed over the pledge in a meeting, on Friday
In a statement, Amb. Ma Wenjun said it is their role as the government of China to stand for South Sudan amid the crisis.
“My government will donate food assistance to South Sudan to ease the worsening humanitarian situation caused by the influx of refugees and returnees from the Republic of South Sudan,” Wenjun said.
He added that China has witnessed the ongoing challenge South Sudan faces with the huge influx of refugees and returnees from neighboring Sudan.
The top Chinese diplomat in Juba did not, however, clarify when his country will extend its hand of support to the suffering South Sudanese and refugees.
In a separate development, Amb. Ma Wenjun also briefed Deputy Minister Ramadhan on China’s plan to empower the South Sudan government through the use of artificial intelligence.
“He is urging support for the initiative and how South Sudan and China could work together to improve artificial intelligence governance and the advancement of artificial intelligence technology to help the two countries’ social and economic development,” the statement partly reads.
The Chinese diplomat further updated the deputy minister on the outcome of the third Belt and Road Forum, a meeting for global cooperation.
“We discussed various issues in the bilateral relationship. I briefed the honorable Deputy Minister on the outcome of the Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF), where the Chinese President, H.E. Xi Jinping, delivered a keynote speech last week in Beijing”, he stated.
H.E. Xi Jinping proposed eight steps during the Third Belt and Road Forum (BRF) to further enhance joint cooperation between partner countries.
Wenjun further noted that President Xi also provided a blueprint for China and South Sudan to promote and enhance bilateral cooperation within the framework.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister extended gratitude to the Chinese ambassador, saying South Sudan and China would continue to coordinate and collaborate in areas of bilateral cooperation.
He urged Chinese companies to come and invest in the mining and agricultural sectors.
Ramadhan also updated the Chargè d’Affaires on the progress of the peace implementation, the challenges facing the deployment of the forces, and the government’s readiness to hold elections next year.
Early this year, South Sudan received nearly 2,400 metric tons of rice from the Chinese government to help respond to the humanitarian crisis caused by the conflict in neighboring Sudan.
The economic ties between South Sudan and China remain tight with the ongoing close cooperation that still defines their stand.