Chinese President Xi Jinping and Mozambican President Daniel Chapo exchanged congratulatory messages on Wednesday, commemorating five decades of diplomatic relations between their nations. The leaders highlighted sustained cooperation in trade, infrastructure, and social development since establishing ties in 1974.
In his message, Xi emphasized China's commitment to deepening strategic partnerships with African nations under the Belt and Road Initiative framework. Mozambique's Nacala Corridor railway and Maputo-Katembe Bridge – both Chinese-backed projects – were cited as symbols of practical collaboration benefiting over 30 million Mozambicans.
Chapo acknowledged China's role as Mozambique's largest trading partner, with bilateral trade reaching $4.3 billion in 2023. The leaders pledged to expand cooperation in agriculture, renewable energy, and digital infrastructure while maintaining alignment on global governance reforms.
Analysts note the anniversary comes as Chinese investments in Mozambique's liquefied natural gas sector approach $8 billion, positioning the Southeast African nation as a key energy partner. The relationship serves as a model for South-South cooperation, combining resource development with skills transfer programs that have trained 2,000 Mozambican technicians since 2018.
