Author: Christine Schier

China kicked off its diplomatic activity for the new year, as is traditional, in Africa. This year, it began with the “Initiative of Peaceful Development in the Horn of Africa,” a region plagued by civil war, terrorism and a humanitarian catastrophe. The policy was presented by Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his four-day visit to Eritrea, […]

At an event in Damascus last week, Syria announced its participation in the Belt and Road Initiative through a memorandum of understanding signed by Syrian Planning and International Cooperation Authority Chair Fadi al-Khalil and the Chinese Ambassador to Syria, Feng Biao. The agreement follows Xi Jinping’s phone call with Syrian President Assad in November, and Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s trip […]