South Sudan's government says ties with China are crucial in stabilizing and developing the country, amid an ongoing conflict. A battalion of Chinese peacekeeping troops has taken the United Nations mission in South Sudan, and Beijing has made a number of donations towards the implementation of a peace deal in the country. South Sudan is seeking closer ties with China for development purposes.
Chinese peacekeepers continue to provide protection to hundreds of thousands of South Sudanese people sheltering under UN protection - but China's role in South Sudan doesn't stop there. The African nation has also benefited from Beijing's efforts to develop the region, and South Sudan hopes to explore Sino-Africa relations further.
China has been involved in South Sudan's development since the country's independence in 2011. In addition to helping stabilize the country, Beijing has been involved in the upgrading of the Juba International Airport, as well as roads and hospitals across the newly-independent country. China also continues to send medical teams to work alongside their South Sudanese counterparts.
