BEIJING, Monday
China
will re-open its embassy in strife-torn Somalia after a 23-year absence
as Beijing extends its diplomatic and resources push into Africa.
Beijing
and Mogadishu established diplomatic ties in 1960, but China withdrew
its diplomatic personnel and shut down its mission as the East African
country descended into civil war in 1991.
The two maintained diplomatic relations despite the lack of a physical embassy.
The
Shabaab fled fixed positions in Mogadishu three years ago, and have
since lost most large towns to the African Union, fighting alongside
government soldiers.
The country has established its
first government and parliament in 20 years, and Beijing will send a
"re-opening group" on Tuesday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Hong
Lei said at a regular briefing.
DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES
"It
is fair to say that Somalia has entered a new age of national
reconstruction which presents new development opportunities to the
bilateral relations between China and Somalia," Hong said.
The re-opening "signals China's importance to Somalia", he added.
China,
the world's second-largest economy, has for years been making
diplomatic and economic inroads in Africa as it seeks new markets and
sources of raw materials.
It is believed Somalia could have significant oil reserves.
KEY INVESTOR
China has become a key investor in several African countries — including war-torn nations such as South Sudan — and in May Chinese premier Li Keqiang made a four-country tour of the continent.
But Somalia's security situation remains delicate, and extremist fighters still regularly launch guerrilla raids.
At
least two people were reported killed Monday and seven wounded when a
bomb exploded in a busy Mogadishu market at the start of Islam's holy
month of Ramadan.
There was no immediate claim of
responsibility, but al-Shabaab have carried out a string of similar
bombings, and have vowed to increase attacks during Ramadan.
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