China names special envoy for Horn of Africa

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin.

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin’s at a press conference on February 22, 2022. PHOTO | COURTESY | CHINA FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTRY

China has named a special envoy for the Horn of Africa, reflecting the growing interest by the world powers in one of Africa’s strategic, but lately troubled, regions.

Wang Wenbin, China’s Spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told reporters on Tuesday that Beijing had named Xue Bing, a former ambassador to Papua New Guinea, as the special envoy for the Horn of Africa affairs.