China is re-opening its embassy in Somalia some 23 years after evacuating its diplomats as the East African nation plunged into civil war.
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.
The United States announced in June it would appoint an ambassador to Somalia but said it had no immediate plans to re-open its embassy.
