Putting the Four Principles into Practice, Promoting Peace and Development in the Horn of Africa
Mr. XU Jian, Charge d’Affaires of Chinese Embassy in Sudan
A couple of weeks ago, President Xi Jinping, during his meeting with President of the Council of Togo Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, put forward four principles on the constructive participation of relevant parties in the resolution of African hotspot issues. First, upholding Africa’s leadership. African people are the true masters of the continent and should therefore play a central role in regional affairs. Second, safeguarding equity and justice. Parties should observe the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries concerned. Third, ceasing hostilities and building peace. War and unilateral sanctions are never real solutions to disputes between states. Countries should respect each other, engage in extensive consultation, seek common ground despite differences, and practice mutual understanding and accommodation. Fourth, addressing both symptoms and root causes. Addressing immediate security concerns should go hand in hand with long-term development planning.Strategic in vision and rich in connotation, the four principles put forward by President Xi Jinping on the constructive participation of relevant parties in the resolution of African hotspot issues are a holistic approach to addressing both symptoms and root causes. It embodies the core tenets of the all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era, and demonstrates Chinese characters, China’s wisdom and its responsibility as a major country, providing clear guidance and feasible pathways for supporting Africa in addressing multiple challenges of security, development and governance. This is also of important, practical guiding significance and long-term strategic value for resolving hotspot issues in Africa including those in the Horn of Africa. Upon their proposal, these four principles were therefore warmly welcomed and actively responded to by many African friends. The Horn of Africa has a strategically important location, abundant resources and a profound history. It is a hub of civilizational exchanges and a bridge connecting the region, having enormous potential for development and promising opportunities. Yet, profound and complex changes are taking place in the region, and hotspot issues keep flaring up there. Regional countries share a more urgent aspiration for peace and development. On October 20 and 21, Sudan launched the Port Sudan Forum and successfully held its inaugural annual conference. Dignitaries, officials, experts and scholars from 14 countries within and outside the region gathered to discuss the peace and development in the Horn of Africa. I had the privilege of attending the Port Sudan Forum 2026, and was encouraged to see that participants highly commended and endorsed the four principles proposed by President Xi Jinping on the constructive participation of relevant parties in the resolution of African hotspot issues. As a responsible major country and a good friend and a good partner of countries in the Horn of Africa, China has upheld fairness and justice on issues concerning the Horn of Africa, endeavored to deepen South-South cooperation, and remained committed to being a builder of regional peace, an advocate for development and a promoter for cooperation. The four principles put forward by President Xi Jinping on the constructive participation of relevant parties in the resolution of African hotspot issues are highly consistent with the needs for peace and development in the Horn of Africa and the aspirations of the people of regional countries for a stable and prosperous life. China stands ready to put the four principles into practice to promote peace and development in the Horn of Africa. On the first point—upholding Africa’s leadership, China supports Africa in solving issues in the Horn of Africa in an African way and avoiding escalating tensions in the region through dialogue and other diplomatic means. On the second point—safeguarding equity and justice, China supports countries in the Horn of Africa in getting rid of external geographical competition and bloc confrontation, pursuing a path of unity and self-improvement, and taking the region’s destiny into their own hands. On the third point—ceasing hostilities and building peace, China opposes any attempt of turning the Horn of Africa into an arena for geopolitics or making the Middle East conflict spread to the Horn of Africa. On the fourth point—addressing both symptoms and root causes, China will continue to do its best to support regional countries in their economic and social development, and fully release the dividends of the zero-tariff policy, so as to make it possible to enhance security through development and secure peace through cooperation. Sudan is an important country in the Horn of Africa. A peaceful, secure and stable Sudan is integral to peace and stability in the region. On Sudan, China has followed an objective and impartial position, calling on the parties concerned to end hostilities as early as possible, ease the humanitarian crisis and advance the political process in order to realize sustained peace and stability. Since the outbreak of the conflict, China has provided several batches of supplies and assistance to Sudan, including food, medical supplies and relief supplies. China will continue to offer assistance as much as it can and play a constructive role in helping Sudan restore peace and stability at an early date. Guided by the aforesaid four principles, China will continue to work with the international community to improve communication and coordination to help Sudan emerge from the shadow of war at an early date and achieve post-war reconstruction and national development.
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