Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Bin Attends Opening Ceremony of China-UN-Africa Training Program on Capacity Building in Small Arms and Light Weapons Control

On June 16, 2026, Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Bin attended the opening ceremony of the China-UN-Africa Training Program on Capacity Building in Small Arms and Light Weapons Control held in Beijing and delivered remarks.

Liu Bin stated that President Xi Jinping has successively put forward the four major global initiatives. China remains firmly committed to being a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development, a defender of the international order, and a provider of public goods. China clearly supports the global conventional arms control process and the implementation of the African Union (AU) initiative "Silencing the Guns in Africa."

Liu Bin pointed out that this year marks the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Africa. China stands ready to work with African countries to practice true multilateralism, strengthen international cooperation and assistance, reinforce national responsibilities in firearms control, promote development, people's livelihoods, peace, and security in Africa, implement the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and take concrete actions to push forward the building of a China-Africa community with a shared future.

Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for the Great Lakes Region Xia Huang stated in a video address that it is extremely urgent to strengthen collective security governance capabilities in the field of small arms and light weapons in the Great Lakes region. The United Nations highly commends China's enhanced assistance to Africa in this regard. Permanent Representative of the AU to China Alhaji Mohamed Sarjoh Bah stated that the training program serves as a significant boost to the AU initiative "Silencing the Guns in Africa." It highlights the spirit of China and Africa working hand in hand, standing by each other through thick and thin, and sharing weal and woe.

Participants in the training program included trainees from the African Great Lakes region countries such as Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Rwanda, as well as representatives from the AU and the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region.