South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Simon Deng
The Minister of Trade and Industry, Atong Kuol Manyang Juuk, met with Chinese Ambassador Ma Qiang to discuss strengthening bilateral trade and industrial cooperation. The talks focused on expanding economic partnerships and boosting industrial growth between South Sudan and China.
Juuk, who hosted the productive meeting, noted that the discussion centred on enhancing bilateral trade and industrial cooperation between the two nations.
“Highlighting the Ministry of Trade and Industry’s potential projects, Minister Kuol requested China’s support in several key areas. These included staff training in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), job creation initiatives, capacity building, and the development of small-scale industries,” said the Ministry of Trade and Industry on Thursday in a statement posted on its Facebook page.
Juuk also proposed an exchange programme for officials to share expertise and best practices.
The primary purpose of the meeting was to seek a formal invitation to attend an upcoming conference in China focused on poverty reduction strategies for African countries, scheduled for September 2025.
Juuk expressed her gratitude for the continuous support from the Chinese government, adding that her ministry is committed to strengthening bilateral ties, particularly through enhanced cooperation between the trade ministries of both countries.
Ma Qiang, the Chinese ambassador to South Sudan, described the meeting as both fruitful and meaningful, reaffirming that China is committed to supporting South Sudan’s economic development, including the export of products such as Gum Arabic and fish.
He reiterated that China’s international trade policies are open and designed to help African countries by offering zero-tariff access for many of their goods.
The Ambassador’s comments highlighted China’s willingness to support South Sudan in diversifying its economy and increasing its presence in global markets.
