South Sudan’s ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) said on Tuesday it is drawing lessons from the Communist Party of China (CPC) on people-centred development, long-term planning and governance as it seeks to improve public services and living standards.
Speaking at a symposium in Juba marking the 105th anniversary of the founding of the CPC, SPLM Secretary for External Affairs Bol Makueng said China’s development experience offers practical lessons for South Sudan.
“The first is the principle of people-centred development. China’s historic achievement of eliminating extreme poverty for over 800 million people demonstrates that economic growth achieves its highest purpose when it improves the daily lives of citizens,” Makueng said.
He said the SPLM was also studying China’s emphasis on long-term strategic planning through successive five-year plans and national development visions.
“China has maintained policy continuity to build infrastructure, advance science and strengthen industry,” he said, adding that another lesson was “seeking truth from facts” by adapting international experience to national conditions through reform and opening-up policies.
Makueng also praised China’s support for South Sudan’s health and agriculture sectors and said Chinese companies had contributed to the construction of roads, bridges, schools, hospitals and other public infrastructure.
He said Chinese medical teams had provided healthcare services in South Sudan and supported humanitarian programmes, describing the bilateral relationship as one based on equality, non-interference in internal affairs and mutual benefit.
Chinese Ambassador Ma Qiang said this year marked both the 105th anniversary of the founding of the CPC and the 15th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and South Sudan.
“Over the past 15 years, our two sides have enjoyed solid political mutual trust and fruitful cooperation in various fields,” Ma said.
He cited remarks made by President Salva Kiir at the CPC’s High-level Dialogue with World Political Parties in 2023, in which Kiir said South Sudan and China enjoy strong bilateral relations based on mutual understanding.
Ma said China remains ready to share its development experience and expand cooperation with South Sudan.
“Friends from the SPLM told me that during the revolutionary period, the SPLM was influenced by Mao Zedong Thought. In the era of development and nation-building, South Sudan values studying and drawing inspiration from General Secretary Xi Jinping’s philosophy and practices on governance,” he said.
The Undersecretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ambassador Agnes Oswaha, described China as a longstanding development partner since South Sudan gained independence in 2011.
“China has remained a steady and reliable partner, whether in infrastructure development, energy, education, health, capacity building or peace support,” Oswaha said.
She said the relationship continued to be guided by mutual respect, equality, non-interference in internal affairs and mutual benefit, principles that underpin South Sudan’s foreign policy and strategic partnership with China.
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