Wei Hongtian

Wei Hongtian is a Chinese diplomat. He briefly served as the Chargé d'Affaires of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Somalia. In December 2014, he was appointed Ambassador of China to Somalia.

Personal life Wei Hongtian pursued his tertiary studies abroad, matriculating at the Somali National University in Mogadishu during the 1980s. He is fluent in the Somali language. On 3 July 2014, Chargé d'Affaires of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China Wei Hongtian presented his credentials to Foreign Minister of Somalia Abdirahman Duale Beyle at an event in the Somali capital. Beyle similarly hailed the appointment as a sign of the nation's strengthening security and foreign diplomatic relations. On 12 October 2014, the new Chinese embassy officially opened in Mogadishu.

On 15 December 2014, Wei Hongtian presented his credentials to President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud as the newly appointed Chinese Ambassador to Somalia. He is the first such envoy after the reopening of the Chinese embassy in Mogadishu.

In April 2015, Wei Hongtian met in Mogadishu with Foreign Affairs Minister of Somalia Abdisalam Omer to discuss ties between both nations. The meeting concluded with a signed bilateral agreement, which strengthens diplomatic relations and collaboration. As part of the treaty's stipulations, $13 million in Chinese funds will be earmarked for reconstruction and development initiatives in the economy, health, education and infrastructure sectors in Somalia. According to Ambassador Wei, the Chinese authorities are slated to continue their support for the Somali government's stabilizations efforts. Omer in turn commended the Chinese government for its sustained cooperation.