Building stability in South Sudan

A Chinese diplomat shares his experiences of working at the frontier of international cooperation, Meng Wenjie reports.

"Some might be under the impression that diplomatic work is prestigious. But in reality, the jobs here branching out from diplomacy are becoming more diverse and down-to-earth," said Ye Shuang, 27, a Chinese diplomat.

The place Ye referred to is South Sudan, one of the youngest countries in the world. Located in eastern Africa, the country gained independence in 2011 after decades of war and turmoil.

Working in a country suffering from strife and war like South Sudan can be really tough. Ye was stationed in 2020 at the Chinese embassy in Juba, the country's capital. He remembered that during his first Chinese New Year in Juba, there were no fireworks or firecrackers outside. Instead, the air was filled with sporadic gunfire around the embassy. As he and several colleagues drove to the peacekeeping infantry camp, they saw children who were barely clothed and barely fed — a scene that left a lasting and bitter impression in his mind.