South Sudan, China celebrate strong partnership at Spring Festival reception

JUBA, Feb. 6 (Xinhua) -- South Sudanese and Chinese officials on Thursday pledged to strengthen bilateral relations and partnerships in critical development fields at a reception hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Juba, the capital, to mark the upcoming Chinese New Year.

Adut Salva Kiir, senior presidential envoy for special programs, reiterated the government's commitment to strengthening existing cooperation between the two countries to ensure that Chinese investments in key sectors of the economy have a positive impact.

Adut said that South Sudan stands ready to benefit from cooperation with Beijing in the fields of technology, infrastructure development, oil and gas, trade and investment, and education, as well as other critical sectors such as mining and agriculture.

She added that the Year of the Horse provides an opportunity for the two governments to act decisively in elevating bilateral engagement to a higher level.

Ma Qiang, Chinese ambassador to South Sudan, said that the China-South Sudan strategic partnership has continued to deepen, marked by frequent high-level exchanges and stronger political mutual trust.

Ma said that practical cooperation between the two countries in infrastructure, energy and agriculture has steadily advanced.

"China consistently follows the principle of sincerity, real results, amity, and good faith. We support South Sudan in pursuing a development path suited to its national conditions, stand ready to share development opportunities, and contribute to South Sudan's peaceful reconstruction and development," he said.

He also paid tribute to the dedication and perseverance of Chinese enterprises and institutions, peacekeeping personnel, and the Chinese medical team, whose contributions continue to support peace and stability in South Sudan. ■