Al-Kathiri Receives the Chinese chargé d'affaires

Mr. Ali Abdullah Al-Kathiri, Acting President of the Southern Transitional Council (STC) and Chairman of the National Assembly, received today, Thursday, at the headquarters of the National Assembly in the capital, Aden, the Acting Chinese Ambassador, Mr. Zhao Zheng.

At the beginning of the meeting, Mr. Al-Kathiri welcomed Mr. Zhao Zheng, expressing his appreciation for the visit to the capital, Aden, and highlighting the longstanding and distinguished bilateral relations with the People's Republic of China, shedding light on China's significant role in the establishment of numerous large-scale projects across various sectors in the South since independence. Moreover, he acknowledged China's efforts in financing commercial and industrial ventures in all fields.

Al-Katiri indicated that the South is looking forward to strengthening friendship and partnership ties with the People's Republic of China and to activating its role and partnership in promoting investments and establishing development projects in the fields of energy or ports, or through contributing to the rehabilitation of Aden refinery.

Al-Kathiri reiterated the support of the STC, led by President Aidarous Qassem Al-Zubaidi, President of the STC and Vice Chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), to resume the work of the Chinese Embassy in the capital, Aden, on an ongoing basis and to provide it with whatever is required to ensure it can carry out its duties with efficiency and power. 

Al-Katiri has reaffirmed the STC's commitment to all peace efforts, noting that any peace process that overlooks or bypasses the cause of the people of the South is doomed to failure.

The Chinese chargé d'affaires expressed deep gratitude for the warm welcome he and his delegation received in the capital, Aden, affirming that his government is ready to expand bilateral cooperation to contribute to the development process and will play a growing role in humanitarian aid and relief efforts.

The Chinese chargé d'affaires reiterated his country's support for the UN Special Envoy's efforts to end the war and achieve peace with the participation of all parties, expressing Beijing's rejection of all forms of threats to international maritime navigation in the Red Sea, Bab el Mandeb, and the Gulf of Aden.

The meeting was attended by Dr. Najeeb Qayid Fare'a, Head of the Department of International Organizations and Human Rights at the Foreign and Expatriates Affairs Authority of the STC.