Beijing – The Chief of Staff of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Mr Mohammed Abdiker, this week (28-30 October) completed a three-day visit to the People’s Republic of China. 

Mr. Abdiker held talks with Mr. Zhang Yong, Deputy Commissioner, National Immigration Administration; Mr. Li Ming, Director-General, Department of International Cooperation, China International Development Cooperation Agency; and Mr. Xia Tian, Deputy Director-General, Department of International Organizations and Conferences, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 

Mr. Abdiker commended the excellent ongoing relationship between IOM and China, acknowledging China’s contribution to IOM as the second-largest assessed contributor. He briefed on IOM’s strategic priorities and showcased IOM’s wide-ranging programmes across the humanitarian, development and peace sectors.  

He appreciated China’s important role in promoting South-South Cooperation, expressing hope for strengthened cooperation with China to support migration management and sustainable development not only in China but also at regional and global levels. 

The Chinese government officials highlighted that China values IOM’s role in facilitating international migration cooperation and appreciated the collaboration between two sides. It was stressed that China upholds multilateralism and firmly supports the central role of the United Nations. The Chinese government welcomed effort to deepen partnership with IOM, including within the framework of South-South Cooperation.  

Mr. Abdiker also met with Mr. Hun Kim, Acting Vice President, the Asian Investment Infrastructure Bank. Both sides introduced their respective mandate and programming, expressing interest in potential collaboration opportunities in migration, infrastructure and sustainable development. 

In Mr. Abdiker's meeting with Ambassador Jorge Toledo, Head of Delegation of the European Union (EU) to China, both sides expressed satisfaction with bilateral cooperation at the global level and in China, particularly the EU-China Dialogue on Migration and Mobility Support Project, which provides a unique platform for regular communication and technical-level exchanges on migration issues between China and the EU, as well as its Member States.  

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For more information, please contact Jiong Wu at IOM China at email: jwu@iom.int