China–Tunisia relations

Chinese–Tunisian relations
Map indicating locations of Tunisia and China

Tunisia
China
Diplomatic mission
Embassy of Tunisia, BeijingEmbassy Of China, Tunis

China–Tunisia relations are foreign relations between China and Tunisia. The People's Republic of China (PRC) established diplomatic relationship with Tunisia on January 10, 1964,[1]: 346  8 years after Tunisia got its independence.[2]

History

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On January 9, 1964, Premier Zhou Enlai of the People's Republic of China visited Tunisia.

Tunisia, previously a French protectorate, attained official independence on March 20, 1956;[3] before this, Zhou Enlai, then-Prime Minister of the People's Republic of China, articulated his endorsement of the Tunisian quest for self-determination and independence at the Bandung Conference in 1955. Following Tunisia's establishment, Zhou Enlai contacted the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Tunisia on April 4 of that year, extending heartfelt congratulations on Tunisia's independence; later, the Tunisian government extended an invitation for Zhou Enlai to visit the region. Habib Bourguiba and Zhou engaged in discussions, during which divergent viewpoints emerged.[4] Bourguiba articulated his skepticism and apprehension regarding Zhou Enlai's assertions at the banquet honoring him. Zhou Enlai recognized that the two nations would not consistently concur but expressed a desire for Tunisia to maintain interactions and exchanges with the People's Republic of China to enhance mutual understanding.[5]

The People's Republic of China and Tunisia formalized diplomatic ties in January 1964; nevertheless, these contacts were somewhat restrained owing to the Tunisian government's alignment with the United States.[6] In late 1964 and the early part of 1965, Tunisian authorities endorsed the concept of "two Chinas" and denounced Mao Zedong, alleged that China did not genuinely endorse peaceful coexistence among nations. Furthermore, subsequent to the Cultural Revolution, certain personnel at the PRC embassy in Tunisia employed aggressive publicity strategies, which antagonized the Tunisian authorities and prompted anti-Chinese remarks from senior government officials. Consequently, the PRC shuttered its embassy in Tunisia in 1967.[7] In 1967, disagreements between the Tunisian government and the Chinese embassy resulted in the suspension of relations.[1]: 346  Bilateral relations resumed in 1971.[1]: 346 

During the 1970s, several nations started to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China, coinciding with a shift in Tunisia's political viewpoints. With the assistance of Mauritania, bilateral relations between the People's Republic of China and Tunisia were ultimately normalized, leading to the reopening of the Chinese embassy in Tunisia.[8] Tunisia proposed that the People's Republic of China be represented in the United Nations under the designation "China," while the Republic of China maintains its representation under the name "Taiwan."[9] Tunisia subsequently endorsed UN General Assembly Resolution 2758, which advocated for the People's Republic of China to replace the Republic of China in the United Nations.[10]

Tunisia has adhered to the One-China policy and, like a majority of countries, recognizes the PRC as the sole legitimate government of "China" and Taiwan and all other islands controlled by the Republic of China (ROC) are recognized by Tunisia as part of PRC's territory as Tunisia does not recognize the ROC as legitimate.[11]

In April 2002, Former Chinese President Jiang Zemin had visited Tunisia, and signed a series of economic, technical and financial support along with cultural cooperation agreements.[12][13]

On February 16, 2017, Tunisia unilaterally permitted Chinese residents with regular passports to enter Tunisia without a visa for 90 days.[14][15] On May 31, 2024, the two countries announced the establishment of the China-Tunisia Strategic Partnership during the state visit by Kais Saied to China.[16][17]

Assistances

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The People's Republic of China has assisted Tunisia in the development of projects including water conservation infrastructure, solar lighting initiatives, shrimp aquaculture centers, and cultural endeavors. The PRC has dispatched medical teams to Tunisia, who have visited local construction sites to offer volunteer medical care and therapies, including massage and acupressure, to Chinese workers and Tunisian natives at these locations.[18][19]

From 2000 to 2011, there are approximately 15 Chinese official development finance projects identified in Tunisia through various media reports.[20] These projects range from $4.6 million worth of in-kind humanitarian assistance to Tunisia in 2011,[21] to a technical and economic co-operation agreement in 2011,[22] and an in-kind grant of RMB30 million to construct two dams in the Tataouine Governorate in South Tunisia.[23]

Extradition

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China has an extradition treaty with Tunisia.[1]: 188 

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d Shinn, David H.; Eisenman, Joshua (2023). China's Relations with Africa: a New Era of Strategic Engagement. New York: Columbia University Press. ISBN 978-0-231-21001-0.
  2. ^ "Tunisia". China.org.cn. Retrieved 2016-10-22.
  3. ^ 北非阿拉伯国家宪法变迁与政治发展研究 (in Chinese). Social Sciences Literature Press. 2018. p. 67. ISBN 978-7-5097-5707-9. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
  4. ^ 風雨四十年 (in Chinese). 中央文献出版社. 1994. p. 102. ISBN 978-7-5073-0302-5. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
  5. ^ 《百年恩来》编辑委员会 (1998). 百年恩来 (in Chinese). 中国经济出版社. p. 314. ISBN 978-7-5017-4198-4. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
  6. ^ 中华人民共和国外交史. 中华人民共和国史丛书 (in Chinese). 黑龙江教育出版社. 1989. p. 133. ISBN 978-7-5316-0916-2. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
  7. ^ 中华人民共和国实录 (in Chinese). 吉林人民出版社. 1994. p. 323. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
  8. ^ China. 外交部. 外交史编辑室 (1988). 中国外交概览 (in Chinese). 世界知识出版社. p. 102. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
  9. ^ 涂成吉 (2008). 中華民國在聯合國的最後日子: 一九七一年台北接受雙重代表權之始末. 秀威出版. p. 83. ISBN 9789862210574. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  10. ^ 世界知识年鑑 (in Chinese). 世界知识出版社. 2008. p. 1051. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
  11. ^ "8. China's Relations with North Africa and the Sahel". China and Africa. University of Pennsylvania Press. 2012. pp. 228–248. doi:10.9783/9780812208009.228. ISBN 9780812208009.
  12. ^ "江泽民主席与突尼斯共和国总统本·阿里举行会谈". 中华人民共和国外交部 (in Chinese). 2002-04-17. Retrieved 2024-06-05.
  13. ^ "江泽民主席与本·阿里总统亲切话别". 中华人民共和国外交部 (in Chinese). 2002-04-19. Retrieved 2024-06-05.
  14. ^ "突尼斯對中國遊客實施免簽入境政策". 大公文匯網 (in Chinese). 2024-09-19. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
  15. ^ "突尼斯对中国游客免签-新华丝路". 新华丝路网 (in Chinese). 2017-02-20. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
  16. ^ "突尼斯总统访华：阿拉伯世界的新战略伙伴关系". 中美聚集 China-US Focus (in Chinese). 2024-07-21. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
  17. ^ "中国突尼斯建立战略伙伴关系". 联合早报 (in Chinese). 2024-05-31. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
  18. ^ "通讯：半个世纪的传承——中国援突尼斯医疗队扎根北非50年-新华网". 新华网_让新闻离你更近 (in Chinese). 2023-04-07. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
  19. ^ "中国援外医疗队派遣50周年_新闻频道_央视网". CNTV (in Chinese). 2020-11-04. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
  20. ^ Austin Strange, Bradley C. Parks, Michael J. Tierney, Andreas Fuchs, Axel Dreher, and Vijaya Ramachandran. 2013. China’s Development Finance to Africa: A Media-Based Approach to Data Collection. CGD Working Paper 323. Washington DC: Center for Global Development.
  21. ^ Strange, Parks, Tierney, Fuchs, Dreher, and Ramachandran, China’s Development Finance to Africa: A Media-Based Approach to Data Collection Archived 2013-06-29 at archive.today, Aiddatachina.org, retrieved 2016-10-22
  22. ^ Strange, Parks, Tierney, Fuchs, Dreher, and Ramachandran, China’s Development Finance to Africa: A Media-Based Approach to Data Collection Archived 2013-06-29 at archive.today, Aiddatachina.org, retrieved 2016-10-22
  23. ^ Strange, Parks, Tierney, Fuchs, Dreher, and Ramachandran, China’s Development Finance to Africa: A Media-Based Approach to Data Collection Archived 2013-06-29 at archive.today, Aiddatachina.org, retrieved 2016-10-22
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