On Monday, December 2, 2024, His Excellency Dileita Mohamed Dileita, President of Djibouti’s National Assembly, received a high-level delegation from the National People’s Congress (NPC) of China, led by His Excellency Zhang Qingwei, Vice-Chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, at Djibouti International Airport.
The welcoming ceremony included key Djiboutian officials, such as First Vice-President Safia Elmi Djibril, Second Vice-President Omar Ahmed Waiss, Bureau Secretary and Chairman of the Djibouti-China Parliamentary Friendship Group Saleban Daher Bileh, and Quaestor Ibrahim Abdo. Chinese Ambassador to Djibouti, His Excellency Hu Bin, also joined the reception.
An initial meeting was held in the airport’s VIP Lounge, where President Dileita and Vice-Chairman Zhang Qingwei highlighted the longstanding friendship and cooperation between Djibouti and China. Both leaders lauded the bilateral relationship as a model of strategic partnership grounded in shared values and mutual respect.
Vice-Chairman Zhang emphasized the significance of selecting Djibouti for his first official visit to Africa, citing the country’s strategic importance in Sino-African relations and China’s high regard for its partnership with Djibouti.
Following the airport reception, the delegation visited Nagad Station, a critical hub of the Ethiopia-Djibouti railway, East Africa’s first standard-gauge electrified railway. This landmark infrastructure project, a symbol of Sino-Djiboutian cooperation, underscores the depth of their collaboration in advancing regional connectivity and development.
The visit also focused on strengthening ties between the Sino-Djiboutian parliamentary friendship groups. Both sides aim to enhance experience-sharing between their legislative institutions, further solidifying the foundation of a lasting strategic partnership.
This visit marks a significant step in fostering closer collaboration and mutual understanding between Djibouti and China, reaffirming their commitment to deepening their exemplary bilateral relations.
