Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi discussed China-Somalia relations with Somali Foreign Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi in New York City on Tuesday.
China stands ready to work with Somalia to implement the outcomes of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and help Somalia achieve stability and development, said Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.
He welcomed the Somali side's active participation in the 10 partnership action plans for China and Africa, which aim to jointly advance modernization and effectively use China's zero-tariff policy for the least-developed African countries.
Fiqi, for his part, said the friendship between Somalia and China has a profound foundation.
He thanked China for upholding justice for Somalia in the international arena.
Somalia firmly abides by the one-China principle and opposes all words and deeds that undermine China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, Fiqi said.
Chinese, Somali FMs meet on bilateral ties
The massive production complex of BASF in Zhanjiang City in south China's Guangdong Province has become a major symbol of China-Germany cooperation and green power utilization.
The company on Thursday put the multibillion-euro site into full operation, marking the largest single investment project wholly owned by a German enterprise in China.
With an investment of 8.7 billion euros, the integrated site covers about 4 square kilometers, the company said. Industry analysts say the project underscores BASF's long-term commitment to expanding in China as the country continues to promote high-standard opening up.
Unlike traditional plants, it runs entirely on green power, using 100 percent renewable electricity and fully electric-driven compressors for its core steam cracker.
"By utilizing 100 percent of the renewable energy, our products made in Zhanjiang contribute also significantly to the lower carbon product footprint. Our current product footprint for such a site like ours will probably be around 4 million tons of CO2. And today, we are at 1.7 million tons of CO2," said Haryono Lim, president of Mega Projects Asia at BASF.
Cutting carbon emissions by more than half, the Zhanjiang site is setting new benchmarks for sustainable chemical production.
"We wanted to distinctively move to South China to participate in the strong growth around the Pearl River Delta and in Guangdong Province. And then, of course, Zhanjiang offers great opportunities with its good infrastructure, deep-sea harbor, and great support by the local government," said Markus Kamieth, CEO of BASF.
The local government's support has been key to the company's growth in the region, and the project is now driving broader green ambitions.
"BASF's full operation boosts the region's low-carbon hydrogen transition by developing the hydrogen value chain to attract related industries, supplying low-cost green power from offshore wind and solar, driving green upgrades in local petrochemicals and steel, and helping build a national pilot zone for zero-carbon industrial parks," said Yang Jiedong, director of the Administrative Committee of Zhanjiang Economic and Technological Development Zone.
BASF Zhanjiang production complex goes fully green, using 100 percent renewable electricity
