Building stability in South Sudan

A Chinese diplomat shares his experiences of working at the frontier of international cooperation, Meng Wenjie reports.

"Some might be under the impression that diplomatic work is prestigious. But in reality, the jobs here branching out from diplomacy are becoming more diverse and down-to-earth," said Ye Shuang, 27, a Chinese diplomat.

The place Ye referred to is South Sudan, one of the youngest countries in the world. Located in eastern Africa, the country gained independence in 2011 after decades of war and turmoil.

Working in a country suffering from strife and war like South Sudan can be really tough. Ye was stationed in 2020 at the Chinese embassy in Juba, the country's capital. He remembered that during his first Chinese New Year in Juba, there were no fireworks or firecrackers outside. Instead, the air was filled with sporadic gunfire around the embassy. As he and several colleagues drove to the peacekeeping infantry camp, they saw children who were barely clothed and barely fed — a scene that left a lasting and bitter impression in his mind.

Coming from a peaceful country like China, Ye was not accustomed to the prevalence of weapons in South Sudan at first. However, as time went on, it became normal for him to encounter soldiers armed with weapons. And Ye had to adapt to a life of wearing bulletproof vests and helmets while he was participating in safety drills as part of his daily routine.

A Chinese medical team member, also part of the assistance effort in South Sudan, told Ye that many Chinese doctors are unfamiliar with treating gunshot wounds due to peaceful and stable society in China. By contrast, doctors in South Sudan have become experts in this field because of the frequent surgeries they have to perform to treat such injuries.

Being one of the least developed countries in the world, South Sudan confronts grave difficulties such as flooding, locust infestations, inhospitable natural surroundings, and multiple epidemics, all of which combine to make a major humanitarian crisis. Moreover, due to backward agricultural production and a lack of industrial infrastructure, the majority of people in South Sudan live in extreme poverty with a desire for economic progress and advancement.

In the face of a challenging external environment and the constant risk of war, Ye and his colleagues have diligently carried out their responsibilities in aiding the 13 million people of this fledgling country.

They have conducted various activities, such as monitoring local security situations from helicopters, reporting on floods in real-time, and providing help at orphanages. Through these efforts, Ye has got the opportunity to interact with local people from diverse backgrounds, including government departments and grassroots organizations.

As a young member of the Communist Party of China, Ye has actively promoted Chinese culture and share Chinese stories through modern media platforms in a way that resonates with young South Sudanese people who make up a significant portion of South Sudan's population and will play a crucial role in shaping the country's future and its subsequent engagement with China. Gradually, he has observed a growing interest among young locals in learning Chinese and exploring Chinese literature.

Ye pointed out that many African countries have observed China's remarkable progress over the past 70 years, including rapid economic growth and sustained social stability. These achievements also align with the aspirations of numerous African nations. In upholding its vision of building a global community with a shared future for mankind, China has put forward "eight major initiatives" and "nine programs" under the framework of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. They have covered the fields of industrial promotion, infrastructure connectivity, trade facilitation, green development, capacity building, health care, people-to-people exchanges as well as peace and security, with the aim of providing practical assistance to African countries and promoting their independent development capabilities.

"I am proud to say that Chinese enterprises were entrusted with the commissioning of the first modern highway, the upgrading project of the first international airport and the first air traffic management system in South Sudan," said Ye.

He also said that in the face of the humanitarian crisis in South Sudan, China has proposed a comprehensive set of assistance initiatives to support the country in many sectors. For several consecutive years, emergency food assistance from China has been provided to South Sudanese people to alleviate food insecurity in the country.

Meanwhile, China has aided in the construction of the Juba Teaching Hospital and Kiir Mayardit Women's Hospital. So far, it has dispatched ten batches of Chinese medical teams to provide assistance in South Sudan.

In addition, China has actively engaged in international collaboration for epidemic control after the outbreak of COVID-19. In fact, South Sudan was the very first country where China sent an expert team after the Extraordinary China-Africa Summit on Solidarity Against COVID-19 held in June 2020.

Furthermore, the China-Aided Technical Cooperation Project in Education was initiated in 2018 to alleviate the shortage of teaching resources in South Sudan. During the project, over 1 million copies of math, English, and science textbooks for primary schools were shipped to South Sudan, benefiting nearly 150,000 local teachers and students in total. Subsequently, the second phase of this educational cooperation project was launched in 2021.

As a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, China has also played an active role in promoting peace agreements among conflicting parties in South Sudan. Additionally, China was the first country to provide material assistance to help rebuild this war-torn country. As the peace process advances and South Sudan finds its footing, China is committed to working with the country to create a prosperous future for the people in South Sudan.

"As young diplomats working at the frontier of international cooperation, we are dedicated to advancing major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics and determined to allow our youthful energy to thrive in this pursuit," Ye said.