China Affirms Eritrea’s Strategic Significance as part of the ‘Maritime Silk Road’ Project

China Affirms Eritrea’s Strategic Significance as part of the ‘Maritime Silk Road’ Project

By Yosief Abraham Z

In a media release he sent, Chinese ambassador to Eritrea, Mr. Yang Zigang, emphasized Eritrea’s strategic partnership as part of the Horn-Africa Maritime Silk Road Project. In his letter, the Chinese ambassador elaborates, “Eritrea is most welcome to take an active part in it to explore opportunities of cooperation and development since it enjoys such strategic and geographical advantage as being along the ‘Maritime Silk Road.”

In this letter in which he briefed victorious conclusion of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China from October 18th to 24th in Beijing, Mr. Yang Zigang manifested that socialism, characterized by Chinese efforts, has entered new era. “In recent years, China-Eritrea exchanges and cooperation in extensive areas…have constantly achieved substantial progress though it hasn’t reached a certain level to fulfill people’s expectations,” he clarified.

After confirming that “there are vast opportunities and limitless prospects for China-Eritrea pragmatic cooperation under the two frameworks of FoCAC and ‘Belt and Road,” the ambassador articulate China’s assurance to stick to the principles of sincerity, real results, affinity and good faith while following the right approach to justice and interests.

Reports indicate that in November 2014, Chinese leader Xi Jinping announced plans to create a 40 billion USD development fund thus to armor China's plans to develop the New Silk Road and the Maritime Silk Road. And regarding Horn Africa, Eritrea is part of the wide developmental schemes along its opportune coastal areas, a specific and more significant location.

It is recalled that China has—in addition to the glance on Zanzibar-- already accelerated its drive to draw Africa into the Maritime Silk Road by speedy construction of a modern standard-gauge rail that links Nairobi and Mombasa in Kenya. The China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), followed by EXIM bank, expects to armor the economic prospects of the horn Africa countries by accelerating the Maritime Silk Road.

Archives assert that one of the prominent financially drivers of the ‘One Road, One Belt,’ The Export-Import Bank of China (EXIM), headed by its President and Chairman, Mr. Li Ruogu, provided the government of Eritrea with $60 million loan toward Bisha Mining project in July of 2010.

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Yosief Abraham Z is a freelance journalist and Executive Director of HorMid Media and Art Center. You can contact him at josiabraham29@gmail.com

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