Barran Press
The Yemeni government and the People's Republic of China signed a memorandum of understanding on Saturday, June 29th, 2024, aimed at reviving, renewing, and developing bilateral relations in the fields of traditional and renewable energy and electrical equipment.
The agreement, according to the official Yemeni news agency Saba, was reached with the Chinese company for Energy and Electrical Equipment (TBEA Co. lTD). It was signed by Yemen's ambassador to China, Dr. Mohammed al-Mitami, in the presence of the Chinese company's president and member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, Zhang Xin.
Ambassador al-Mitami highlighted that the Chinese company is committed to supporting Yemen by implementing programs in areas where the country urgently needs assistance. He expressed his hope that the agreement would contribute to strengthening and developing industrial relations, benefiting both countries and their friendly peoples.
Zhang Xin, a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, affirmed his strong support for the company's participation in Yemen's reconstruction programs, facilitating access for Yemen to Chinese institutions for aid and concessional loans.
He expressed the company's readiness to send a technical team to Yemen to train Yemeni personnel in energy and electrical equipment technology and to welcome them at the company's headquarters in various Chinese cities.
The Chinese Company for Energy and Electrical Equipment is one of China's top four industrial companies in the energy sector. It is a leading company in energy and electrical equipment technology, with a total output of $35.7 billion last year and operations in 39 countries around the world.
On Friday, June 28th, the internationally recognized Yemeni government called for a "serious" return of Chinese institutions and companies to Yemen to complete commercial and construction activities that were halted due to the coup by the Houthi group, internationally classified as a terrorist organization.
This call came from the Minister of Industry and Trade, Mohammed al-Ashwal, who is currently visiting China. During a meeting with the Deputy Chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, Yu Jianlong, al-Ashwal stated that "the return of Chinese companies to invest in Yemen will represent a contribution towards the sustainability of economic peace and overcoming humanitarian challenges."
According to the Yemeni news agency Saba, Minister al-Ashwal pointed out that Yemen "expects a lot from infrastructure projects, and hopes for support from the People's Republic of China through its expertise and the bilateral relations between the two countries."
He also highlighted Yemen's strategic location, making it a cornerstone of the "Belt and Road" initiative, and the possibility of a partnership between the Yemeni and Chinese governments in various fields, including energy, electricity, and the development of Yemeni ports, which are considered important stations on the maritime Silk Road.