On the morning of May 15, 2023, Premier Li Qiang of the State Council met at the Great Hall of the People with Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki who was in China for a state visit.

Li Qiang said that over the 30 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Eritrea, the two countries have enjoyed solid political mutual trust and increasingly close cooperation. Last year, President Xi Jinping and President Isaias Afwerki decided to elevate the China-Eritrea relationship to a strategic partnership, injecting new and strong impetus into the two countries’ efforts to deepen cooperation in various fields. China will work with Eritrea to continuously enrich the China-Eritrea strategic partnership, enhance the strategic nature and sustainability of bilateral cooperation and achieve win-win development.

Li Qiang pointed out that the two sides should further synergize their economic and social development strategies and strengthen exchanges on formulating industrial development plans, building industrial parks and supporting the development of key industries. Both sides should deepen cooperation in infrastructure, marine fisheries, water resources and energy and mineral resources development, and foster new highlights of cooperation in such areas as digital economy, green economy and blue economy. China will continue to provide assistance for Eritrea’s economic and social development to the best of its ability. Both sides should coordinate and cooperate more closely in regional and international affairs, and implement the nine programs under the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and the Outlook on Peace and Development in the Horn of Africa. The two sides should uphold true multilateralism, firmly oppose hegemony and bullying, defend the common interests of China, Eritrea, and other developing countries, and safeguard world peace and development as well as international fairness and justice.

Isaias Afwerki said that the Eritrean side appreciates China’s firm support for Eritrea’s independence and development and highly applauds China’s important contribution to maintaining world peace and opening up a new path for the modernization of humanity. Eritrea is ready to step up friendly cooperation with China, draw on China’s experience, promote further development of the Eritrea-China strategic partnership, write a new chapter in the Africa-China friendship, jointly oppose hegemonism, and join hands to build a more equitable and just international order.

Qin Gang, among others, was present at the meeting.