Somalia’s connection with China dates back further than many realize. The ruler of the Somali Ajuuran Sultanate sent ambassadors to China to establish diplomatic ties, creating the first ever recorded African community in China. In return, Emperor Yongle, the third emperor of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), dispatched one of the largest fleets in history to trade with the nation. The fleet, under the leadership of the famed Hui Muslim Zheng He, arrived at Mogadishu while the city was at its zenith. Along with gold, frankincense and fabrics, Zheng brought back the first ever African wildlife to China, which included hippos, giraffes and gazelles.
– Relations between Somalia and China long predate the Middle Ages; through trade, the peoples of both areas established good relations. Giraffes, zebras and incense were exported to the Ming Empire of China, which established Somali merchants as leaders in the commerce between the Asia and the Horn of Africa, and in the process influenced the Chinese language with the Somali language and vice versa. The Chinese exported celadon wares, spices and muskets in return for horses, exotic animals and ivory. The prominent Hui-Chinese explorer, mariner, diplomat and fleet admiral, Zheng He, arrived in his fourth and fifth voyage to the Somali cities of Mogadishu, Zeila, Merca and Berbera. Sa’id of Mogadishu a Somali explorer travelled to China in the 14th century, when China was ruled by the Yuan Dynasty, and noted the trading communities of the Chinese ports and cities.
Today Somalia is back on the world stage after an absence of 20 years of political turmoil which the country went through.
As the chinese look towards africa and Somalia being the most strategic nation on the continent economically and politically there’s a big opportunity for both nations to re-establish their ancient trading partnerships. Since 2012 there’s been atleast 5 meetings between trade delegates from both nations and numerous agreements signed, the chinese one of the first nations to re-establish their diplomatic missions in Somalia are eager to invest in Somalia and that can only be a good news for the enterprising Somalis.
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