Xi Jinping hosts Eritrean President Isaias Afewerki in Beijing, shoring up ties
- Xi thanks Isaias for assistance in evacuating Chinese nationals from Sudan, which shows ‘the profound friendship between China and Eritrea’
- Eritrea, on the Horn of Africa, helps China’s trade access to the Suez Canal, Europe and the Indian Ocean, while Asmara seeks more investment from Beijing, analysts say
Chinese President Xi Jinping rolled out the red carpet in Beijing on Monday for his Eritrean counterpart Isaias Afewerki, saying that China opposed sanctions imposed on the Horn of Africa nation.
Eritrea is heavily sanctioned by Western nations for alleged human rights abuses, but in a meeting with President Isaias, Xi said that China opposed external interference in Eritrea’s internal affairs.
He added that Beijing would firmly support Eritrea to safeguard its own sovereignty, security and development interests.
“China is willing to exchange experience with Eritrea on state governance, continue to support each other, jointly oppose unilateralism and bullying, and safeguard the common interests of the two countries,” state-run Xinhua News Agency quoted Xi as saying.
Eritrea, which won independence from its East African neighbour Ethiopia in 1993, is located at a strategic hot point along the Red Sea, one of the world’s critical shipping corridors.