Qin Jian, China’s Ambassador to Somalia, arrived in Somaliland for official talks with senior members of President Muse Bihi Abdi’s administration.
Ambassador Jian arrived in Hargeisa on Saturday.
Top officials at the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs were at the Egal Airport to receive and welcome Ambassador Jian to Somaliland.
Jian’s itinerary and exact agenda for the talks remain unknown.
However, the recent strengthening of diplomatic ties between Somaliland and Taiwan, which China considers part of its territory, is expected to feature prominently in the talks.
China condemned Taiwan’s decision to establish diplomatic relations with Somaliland. Somalia also expressed its displeasure at the turn of events.
The fact that Taiwan and Somaliland promised to deploy their representatives to each other’s territory did not go down well with either China or Somalia.