Mozambican Defence Minister Cristóvão Chume travelled to Beijing this week at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart, Dong Jun, to discuss deepening military cooperation.
“Deepening bilateral military cooperation is of strategic importance for achieving common development and maintaining regional stability,” Dong told China’ state-run Xinhua news agency. He added that China was willing to work with Mozambique to raise military relations to a new level.
Chume alluded to the long-standing friendship between the two countries, saying he hoped that both sides would continue to strengthen bilateral ties.
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During his visit to Beijing, Chume inspected military units, military higher education institutions and defence industry companies in China. He was accompanied by the commander of the army branch of the Armed Defence Forces of Mozambique (FADM) and by national directors of the defence ministry.
In 2016, the two countries signed a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and Cooperation Agreement aimed at strengthening contacts between their respective military and law enforcement organisations. China pledged to help Mozambique strengthen national defence capacity and train military personnel.
China’s support for Mozambique goes back to the 1960s when it sided with the Mozambique Liberation Front (Frelimo) in its fight against colonial power Portugal. China was among the first to establish formal diplomatic relations when Mozambique became independent in 1975.
