China hosts Horn of Africa Peace Conference in Ethiopia

By Seleshi Tessema

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AA) - Participants of a two-day Chinese-led Horn of Africa Peace Conference on Tuesday in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, agreed to continue common peace efforts in the volatile region plagued by devastating conflicts.

Foreign ministry officials from Ethiopia, Sudan, Somalia, South Sudan, Kenya, Uganda, and Djibouti took part in the meeting. Eritrea was absent.

A statement at the end of the meeting noted that participants formulated a comprehensive vision and vowed to work together for peace in the region.

“Participants uphold the vision to work together to maintain peace and security in the region, and build the Horn of Africa where the guns are silenced,” it said. “The Parties are willing to …. manage differences and disputes between countries of the region, and pursue peaceful settlement through dialogue and negotiation in an effort to ease the security situation in countries of the region.”

China’s first special envoy to the Horn of Africa, Xue Bing, said the first meeting will continue with senior officials of countries that pledged to meet twice and find a negotiated settlement to ongoing conflicts.

However, he said, the meeting did not dwell on specific conflicts.

"The senior leaders of the countries must decide to dwell on specific conflicts and find ways and means of resolving them," said Xue. "All the same, as the region’s nations have high confidence in China, we will continue to mediate conflicts."

China, which has huge investment, would continue to develop roads, railways, and ports, he added.

Asked why Eritrea failed to participate after being invited, he said, "they could not show up due to what they said was technical issues."