Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Thursday met with Mozambican Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Maria Manuela dos Santos Lucas in Changsha, the provincial capital of Hunan in central China.
During the meeting, Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that this year marks the 50th anniversary of Mozambique's independence as well as the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Over the past five decades, both sides have firmly supported each other's core interests, with their cooperation bringing tangible benefits to the people of both countries and writing a vivid chapter in China-Mozambique relations, said Wang.
Looking ahead, China is ready to work with Mozambique to uphold their original aspiration, deepen their comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, strengthen strategic coordination, continue mutual support, and jointly open a new, even more prosperous chapter in bilateral relations over the next 50 years, said Wang.
China appreciates Mozambique’s commitment to the one-China principle and stands ready to support Mozambique in accelerating its industrialization and modernization, said Wang, noting that China will also continue to dispatch medical experts to Mozambique.
Wang stated that changes and chaos mark the current international landscape, noting that the United States prioritizes its own interests, withdraws from international treaties and organizations, and arbitrarily imposes tariff hikes and unilateral sanctions -- actions that are not consistent with the conduct of a responsible major country.
China upholds win-win cooperation and remains a true friend and partner to Africa, said Wang, adding that China welcomes support and assistance to Africa from all parties, but opposes using Africa for bloc confrontation or seeking geopolitical interests.
He said China stands ready to work with its African partners to jointly uphold the basic norms of international relations and safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries. China will effectively implement the outcomes of the Beijing Summit, follow through on the Changsha Declaration, and support Africa in accelerating its development and revitalization, Wang said.
Lucas congratulated China on the successful conclusion of the Ministerial Meeting of Coordinators and expressed her heartfelt gratitude to Chinese President Xi Jinping for announcing new measures to further support Africa’s development.
Noting that the friendship between Mozambique and China has a long history, characterized by mutual trust and a bond as close as family, Lucas thanked China for its support in Mozambique’s independence and liberation, national development, and healthcare sector, as well as for standing firmly with Mozambique during difficult times.
She said the relationship between the two countries is historic and strategic. Mozambique reiterated its commitment to the one-China principle and expressed firm support for China in safeguarding its territorial sovereignty and integrity, said Lucas, stressing that this is important not only for China but for all African countries as well.
Lucas said Mozambique appreciates China’s countermeasures against unilateral tariff hikes, which sends a strong message on behalf of the Global South. She added that Mozambique is willing to strengthen cooperation with China on international and multilateral affairs.
Wang Yi meets with Mozambican foreign minister
The Israeli government is set to prohibit 37 international aid organizations from operating in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank effective Jan 1, 2026, after authorities stated the groups failed to comply with stricter registration requirements, according to an Israeli media report on Tuesday.
The report from The Times of Israel cited the statement from Israel's Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism, saying that the new regulations are based on security concerns aimed at removing non-government organizations' staff allegedly linked to so-called "terrorist organizations."
The report came after the Israeli government announced the same day that it would suspend the activities of several international aid organizations, including Doctors Without Borders, in the Gaza Strip starting January 1, 2026, citing the organizations' failure to submit information on their Palestinian staff as required.
Last year, Israel rolled out new regulations on registration requiring international aid groups to provide detailed information of their staff's names, funding sources, and operation status.
On Wednesday, Israel's Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories stated that the registration mandates were necessary to prevent humanitarian supplies from being exploited by Hamas.
In an online interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN) on Wednesday, Bushra Khalidi, policy lead at Oxfam, a global organization that fights inequality to end poverty and injustice, said the impact of the ban will be "devastating."
"It is devastating. We've seen the numbers from the IPC (Integrated Food Security Phase Classification) a few weeks ago. We saw them in the summer. There's been a slight improvement, but that's not good enough for the time of a ceasefire. And six months after the famine was declared, we should have seen much more improvement in Gaza," said Khalidi.
"It's winter here in Palestine. It was raining. It rained a record (amount) of rain per millimeter yesterday in Palestine since 1992. So, the impact is devastating. But the fact that shelter materials, for example, cannot enter. For families, this will mean slower repairs. It will mean fewer supplies. It will mean a longer wait for basic services. It will directly affect the access to clean water, to sanitation, to shelter materials, to public health interventions. Aid that should be moving predictably will remain delayed, it will remain restricted and it will remain stranded," she added.
She also emphasized that the operating environment became nearly impossible for organizations to navigate long before the new ban was announced.
"We have been obstructed and blocked from operating freely and unobstructedly for the last two years by Israel. Israel has killed a record number of humanitarian workers in the last two years. It has bombed our premises, it has bombed our convoys, it has blocked our items. It has driven famine like conditions in Gaza because of blocking humanitarian access. So, I think it's really important to set that scene, is that what is happening now is nothing new. It only continues within the kind of campaign that Israel has orchestrated to drive basically the population of Gazans' survival. So, we are, we have not been able to enter any materials in since March, in fact, us and many other organizations. And of course that has severely restricted our ability to scale up our operations," said Khalidi.
Hadja Lahbib, European Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management, said on Wednesday that Israel's move is no different from cutting off lifesaving supplies for the local population, adding that the European Union has made clear that all obstacles to humanitarian access must be lifted.
Israel bans operations of 37 int'l aid groups in Gaza Strip, West Bank
