China intends to play a “mediating role” in the crisis in Niger

The Chinese government intends to play a “mediating role” in the political crisis in Niger, declared Jiang Feng, the Chinese ambassador to this country in an interview on Monday on Nigerien national television.

“The Chinese government intends to play a role of good offices, of mediator, with total respect for regional countries to find a political solution to this Nigerian crisis,” declared the ambassador in this interview, after a meeting with Prime Minister Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine, appointed by the military who took power.

“China always pursues a principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries and encourages African countries to resolve their problems the African way,” added the ambassador.

China is a major economic partner of Niger, mainly in the energy sector.