IMPRESSION ABOUT YEMEN [Archives:1999/37/Law & Diplomacy]

H. E. Mr. Shi Yanchun, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of The People’s Republic of China in The Republic of Yemen  
I was installed as an Ambassador for China, in the Republic of Yemen, in 1997. Yemen has left a deep impression on me. Yemen also has achieved big developments in the period of President Saleh. The military and security forces had struggled in bravery to protect the Yemeni Revolution. All Yemeni people joined hands with the military forces in their struggle to protect Sana’a and the Republican regime. Assab’een blockage is an immortal event in the mind of history. It will be always alive in the minds and hearts of the millions. The Revolution is an immortal heroic development in the history of Yemeni-Chinese relationship. 
President Saleh takes upon his shoulder the Revolution’s aims, and leads the country successfully to develop the financial, economic and administrative reforms. He aims at improving the country’s relations with neighbors and to consolidate the Arab Union. 
Thereupon, the Yemeni and Chinese relationship is distinguished and historical. Some sources had mentioned that the Chinese people had began to arrive to Yemen in the sixth century. They brought silk and pottery from China to Yemen throughout land and sea transportation. During the tenth century, Aden was an important waterway which leads to China. In the fifteenth century, Captain Jenkh Kha had visited Aden three times. Yemeni rulers also sent missionaries to China. 
The People’s Republic of China was founded on October 1, 1949. Since that time, it still preserves the Yemeni-Chinese relationship. The Yemeni-Chinese diplomatic relationship had started in 1956. On October 6, 1962, China recognized the Yemeni Republican regime after the Revolution, on September 26, 1962. The Chinese mission which was in Yemen before the Revolution turned into an Embassy, on February 13, 1963. 
China upheld the Yemeni Revolution during the Sana’a blockage days. Then, it declared clearly that the people and government of China supported the people and government of Yemen, in their struggle of preserving the national sovereignty and independence of the country. 
We see that the continuous development in Yemen-China relations is one of the Chinese policies. This relation is going on towards a better future. China founded about seventy projects in Yemen. During the visit of President Saleh and Vice President Abdrabuo M. Hadi to China, many contracts were signed. Now, we are implementing those contracts. 
On September 1, 1999 I shared time with President Saleh, Vice President and Minister of Reconstruction and Urban Planning, Mr. Abdulla H. Al-Daf’ei, at the inauguration of the second stage of the Yemeni-Chinese Friendship Bridge. This bridge is located in the heart of the capital Sana’a; it is deemed as a gift offered by the government of China to Yemen. Absolutely, this bridge reflects the wide extension of the Yemeni-Chinese friendship. It consists of three levels: The high level bridge, under bridge level and water level deepening (about 5 meter). However, I will do my best to consolidate the Yemeni Chinese friendship, and I am sure that this friendship will prosper more and more in the future. 
In the Golden Anniversary of China and the Thirty-Seventh anniversary of the Yemeni Revolution, I wish that Yemeni-Chinese friendship will reach a high level of prosperity.
——
[archive-e:37-v:1999-y:1999-d:1999-09-13-p:./1999/iss37/l&d.htm]