Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said today the decision came after Somalia established its first government and parliament in 21 years. He said Beijing would send a delegation to Somalia tomorrow.
Hong told reporters: "Somalia has entered a new stage of its peace process," which "brings a new opportunity for the development of China-Somalia relations."
Chinese diplomats left Somalia in January 1991 after a longtime dictator was overthrown and warlords turned on each other, plunging the country into chaos.