The Ethiopian government has held talks with an envoy from the People’s Republic of China, whose state oil company holds a major stake in the oil sector in South Sudan. 

Both nations have urged for peace in South Sudan, with Ethiopia taking the lead in mediating talks hosted in Addis Ababa. 

Tedros Adhanom, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, said yesterday he “held fruitful discussions with Zhong Jianghua, China’s Special Representative for African Affairs regarding South Sudan peace talks and other regional issues.”

In a statement, the Ethiopian Foreign Ministry explaind “the discussion focused on the current situation in South Sudan and to help IGAD’s efforts to bring peace.”

IGAD, the Inter-governmental Authority on Development, is chaired by the Ethiopian prime minister. The East African organization’s chief mediator is also the former Ethiopian foreign minister.

Chinese oil workers in Unity State were evacuated from the country in December. Fields there remain shut down. 

Photo: Tedros Adhanhom (right) and Zhong Jianghua (left) (Ethiopian Foreign Ministry)