Jinhua, (SONNA) — The Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Somalia to the People’s Republic of China, H.E. Dr. Hodan Osman Abdi, delivered the opening remarks at the 2025 Forum on China–Africa Legal Communication and Cooperation held in Jinhua, Zhejiang Province.
In her remarks, Ambassador Hodan expressed her heartfelt joy at “returning to her second home, Jinhua,” where she studied nearly two decades ago. She noted with pride that trade between Jinhua and Somalia has increased by more than 16.2% over the past year, a testament to the growing vitality of local cooperation within the broader China–Somalia partnership.
Ambassador Hodan emphasized the importance of strengthening the role of rule-of-law coordination between China and Somalia to guide and safeguard future investment opportunities.
“Rule of law is the institutional foundation that secures stability, confidence, and long-term growth. It should guide how we shape future cooperation, ensuring that our partnership rests on fairness, clarity, and shared trust,” she said.
She also expressed her intention to facilitate more dialogue and cooperation between legal, academic, and economic institutions from both countries, promoting greater policy alignment and mutual learning. The Ambassador highlighted the need to cultivate talent and provide training opportunities for Somali youth, enabling them to become the next generation of “bridges” for China–Somalia cooperation.
Ambassador Hodan concluded by reaffirming Somalia’s readiness to deepen engagement under the FOCAC framework and the Global Development Initiative, advancing a shared vision of progress, justice, and prosperity for both peoples.
The forum, now in its second edition in Jinhua, is held under the broader framework of the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). It serves as a vital platform to deepen dialogue on law, governance, and institutional cooperation, helping China and African countries strengthen mutual understanding and support sustainable development through legal exchange and collaboration.
The event was jointly organized by the Jinhua Municipal People’s Government, the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Justice, and Zhejiang Normal University, with strong support from the Institute of African Studies at Zhejiang Normal University and other relevant partners.
