China, South Sudan hold peace and development symposium in Juba

The Chinese Embassy in South Sudan, in partnership with the University of Juba, held a high-level symposium on Monday under the theme “Peace and Development: A Joint Symposium for Building Communities with a Shared Future for Humanity.”

The event brought together Chinese diplomats, South Sudanese government officials, university leaders and development experts to discuss ways to promote peace, sustainable development and bilateral cooperation.

Speaking on behalf of the Chinese government, Huo Ying said China’s foreign policy is based on peaceful development.

“As President Xi Jinping said, since 1840, the Chinese people have had a deep memory of the suffering brought by war and have therefore tirelessly pursued peace,” Huo said. “Since the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, China has not provoked a single conflict or war. It is the only major country that has written peaceful development into both its national Constitution and that of the ruling party.”

Huo said China opposes foreign interference in South Sudan’s internal affairs and supports local solutions to local challenges.

“We advocate that the international community, on the premise of respecting South Sudan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, should provide constructive assistance rather than interfere under various pretexts,” she said.

Huo also referenced China’s global initiatives—including the Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative and Global Civilization Initiative—as part of its commitment to multilateralism and cooperation.

University of Juba Vice Chancellor Robert Mayom highlighted China’s support for South Sudan’s academic sector.

“We have trained our academics at various levels—Ph.D. and Master’s degrees—in universities in China,” Mayom said. “We have received computers, donated books and tuition support for our students. The embassy has also arranged cultural programs that have introduced us to China’s development path.”

Mayom called for increased investment in agricultural infrastructure and innovation, saying such projects could bring lasting benefits.

“If agricultural land projects are built, that would be very welcome, and people in rural areas would know that this is again from the People’s Republic of China,” he said.

Speakers at the symposium agreed that peace and development are interconnected.