Chinese envoy urges more support for peace, stability efforts in South Sudan

China has called for continued efforts to support the warring parties in South Sudan to reach consensus on outstanding issues within the signed peace deal last year to enable peace and stability to prevail after more than five years of conflict.

Hua Ning, Chinese ambassador to South Sudan, said the global community should take more coordinated and effective actions toward supporting the mediation efforts by the African Union and regional body Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) as well as the efforts of the warring parties to implement the revitalized peace agreement (RARCSS).

The Chinese government and people hope that all South Sudanese parties could prioritize the interests of the country and people by implementing the RARCSS, Hua wrote in an opinion piece published on Friday in the local Dawn newspaper in Juba.

“We are convinced that with the support of the international community, the South Sudanese government and people have the wisdom and ability to achieve peace and stability in the country,” he said.

China will continue to assist the youngest nation that has suffered civil strife since December 2013 to undertake reconstruction and enhance its peace and development, Hua said.

“We need to help South Sudan carry out national reconstruction, enhance its capabilities for development, achieve mutual promotion of development and peace, and ensure that the South Sudanese people would gain more peace dividends,” he said.

Under the framework of the Forum on China Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), China announced last year that it would provide 300 million yuan (about 44.5 million U.S. dollars) in grant and 100 million yuan (about 14.8 million dollars) in emergency food aid to South Sudan to support development and people’s livelihood.

China has funded the construction of hospitals like the Kiir Mayardit hospital in Rumbek, the renovation and expansion of the main referral Juba Teaching Hospital, and also completed rebuilding and expansion of Juba Airport, one of several projects aided by the Chinese government.

“We are delighted that South Sudan sent a delegation to participate in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Tax Administration Cooperation Forum and become a member of this mechanism,” Hua said.

“With the advancing of South Sudan’s peace process, China will continue to strengthen cooperation with South Sudan under the framework of BRI and FOCAC, bringing more benefits to our peoples,” he said.

“China is willing alongside South Sudan to keep implementing the outcomes of FOCAC Beijing summit and the important consensus reached between our two heads of state and promoting cooperation in the fields of infrastructure, agriculture, education, health and energy,” Hua added. Enditem