1. Political relations
China and Somalia established diplomatic relations on December
14, 1960. From 1960 to 1990, bilateral ties between the two
countries had witnessed a smooth and steady advancement. In 1970
and 1971, Somalia, together with some other countries, submitted
the motion to the General Assembly of the United Nations (UN) on
restoring the legitimate seat of China in the UN, and made active
contributions to the restoration of the legitimate seat of the
People's Republic of China in the world body.
During the period from 1960 to1990, many Somalia leading
officials visited China. They were Prime Minister Abdirashid Ali
Shermarke (August 1963), President Aden Abdullah Osman (July 1965),
President Mohamed Siad Barre (May 1972, April 1978), the third Vice
President Ismail Ali Abucar, (June 1977), First Vice President and
Defense Minister Mohamed Ali Samater (May 1979), Foreign Minister
Abdurahman Jama Barre (April 1979, December 1984), Second Vice
President Hussein Kulmie Afrah (April 1982). There were also many
Chinese leaders who visited Somalia. They were Premier Zhou Enlai,
(February 1964, accompanied by Vice Premier Chen Yi), Vice Premier
Chen Muhua (July, 1978), Vice Premier Geng Biao, (November 1978),
Vice Foreign Minister He Ying (October 1979), and Yang Jingren,
Vice Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative
Conference (October 1984), President Li Xiannian (March, 1986),
etc.
In 1991 when the Siad government was overthrown, Somalia was
bogged down into a separatist situation with the coexistence of
several warlord regimes. Although the Chinese Embassy, medical team
and relevant experts left Somalia in January 1991, the two
countries have still maintained diplomatic relations. Ever since
the outbreak of the Somalia civil war, the Chinese Government has
been closely concerned about the situation in Somalia, and has
backed all efforts made by the international community and other
regional organizations to settle the Somalia issue in a peaceful
manner. China has consistently taken an active part in the
discussions of the Somalia issue within the UN and provided Somalia
for many times humanitarian assistance, such as medicines, disaster
relief materials, etc. Since January 2003, China has begun to act
as the UN Security Council coordinator on the Somalia issue.
2. Economic and trade relations and economic and
technical cooperation
Since 1963, China has provided Somalia with various kinds of
economic assistance. The main projects China has accomplished in
Somalia are: National Theatre, the Hargeisa water supply project,
Somalia Cigarette Manufactory, Somalia Banadir Hospital, Somalia
Stadium, road between Beled Weyne and Burao, Barrouen Farm, Fanole
Farm and a hydro-power station, etc.
China started to contract projects and labor cooperation in
Somalia since 1982. From the year 1963 to 1980, trade between the
two countries was conducted by means of keeping accounts and later
changed to cash transaction. China's exports to Somalia are main
light industrial products, textile, medicine, hardware and
small-sized machinery, and main imports from Somali are myrrh,
frankincense and leather, etc.
In 2002, the total trade volume between the two countries
amounted to US$3.39 million, of which China's export was US$1.83
million and import US$1.56 million.
The economic and trade agreements signed by the governments of
China and Somalia were: the Agreement between the Government of the
People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of
Somalia on Economic and Technological Cooperation (1963 and 1978);
the Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of
China and the Government of the Republic of Somalia on Trade and
Payment (1963); the Agreement between the Government of the
People's Republic of China and the Government of the Somalia
Democratic Republic on Trade and Payment (1980).
3. Exchange and cooperation in fields of culture,
education, health and the military
China and Somalia had kept frequent and active cultural
exchanges before 1991. China once dispatched sports coaches to
Somalia. The two countries signed the agreements on cultural
cooperation in 1963 and 1983 respectively. The cooperation in the
field of health between the two countries started from 1965, and
China sent its first 10-member medical team to Somalia in the same
year. Up to the very beginning of the Somalia civil war in 1991,
there were altogether 19 Chinese medical workers in Somalia.
Before the outbreak of the Somalia civil war, the two countries
had maintained friendly military relations. There were exchanges of
visits to each other by military leaders from both countries, among
which were Lieutenant General Mohamed Ali of Defense Minister of
Somalia in May 1979, Major General Aden Abdullahi Nur in 1988, and
Liu Kai, Assistant Chief of General Staff of the Chinese People's
Liberation Army (PLA) in April 1980.
4. Important agreement and document
The Joint Communiqué on the Establishment of Diplomatic
Relations between the People's Republic of China and the Republicof
Somalia.( Dec. 14 1960)
(Chinese Foreign Ministry October 10, 2006)