Signing of a Twinning Agreement Between the City of Djibouti and the City of Yongzhou (China)

Date de l'événement : 2025-06-13

At the conclusion of the 4th China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo, held in Changsha, the capital of Hunan Province, the City of Djibouti took a significant step forward in its international cooperation strategy by signing a twinning agreement with the City of Yongzhou. This initiative marks a major turning point in Sino-Djiboutian relations at the municipal level. The delegation, led by Mr. Othman Hamad, Chief Advisor to the Mayor of Djibouti and member of the Municipal Council, also included Ms. Kifia Ahmed, a local elected official. Mr. Othman Hamad signed the twinning agreement on behalf of the Mayor of Djibouti, Mr. Said Daoud Mohamed, alongside Mr. Chen Ailin, Mayor of Yongzhou, and his deputy, Mr. Xiao Yang. This friendship pact aims to strengthen decentralized cooperation between the two municipalities, particularly in the areas of urban governance, sustainable development, territorial innovation, culture, and the exchange of experiences. It builds on the memorandum of understanding signed in Hongzhou in April 2023, initiated by the Mayor of Djibouti during a landmark official mission. The participation of the City of Djibouti in the Expo, themed “China and Africa: Together for Modernization”, gave new momentum to African municipal partnerships. Yongzhou hosted the Djiboutian delegation as part of its local exhibition titled “Joint Sino-African Actions in Pursuit of Modernization”, reaffirming a shared commitment to inclusive, innovative, and resilient urbanization. Beyond the institutional meetings, the delegation’s visit was enriched with strong cultural and diplomatic moments, including: A visit to the Shaoshan Museum, birthplace of former Chinese President Mao Zedong, A nighttime river cruise on the Xian River, An official dinner in Changsha, hosted by the Mayor of Yongzhou and his deputy to mark the closing of the city’s trade pavilion exhibition. Additionally, on the sidelines of the visit, the Djiboutian representatives were warmly congratulated by Ms. Rasata Rafaravitafika, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Madagascar, for Djibouti’s election to the presidency of the African Commission—further affirming the growing diplomatic influence of the Djiboutian capital. Finally, this twinning agreement represents a concrete commitment to an active and connected city diplomacy. It underscores the Mayor of Djibouti’s ambition—and that of his team—to make international cooperation a key driver for the city’s future. By strengthening ties with dynamic Chinese cities like Yongzhou, Djibouti City positions itself within a proactive vision of shared development and urban solidarity. Translated and Published : Nouria Omar Gaber