On April 17, 2026, President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory message to Ismail Omar Guelleh on his re-election as President of the Republic of Djibouti.

Xi Jinping noted that China and the Republic of Djibouti share a profound traditional friendship. In recent years, the two sides have steadily consolidated political mutual trust, and achieved fruitful outcomes in practical cooperation. President Ismail Omar Guelleh has long been committed to promoting China-Djibouti friendship as well as exchanges and cooperation across various fields, which is highly appreciated by the Chinese side. Xi Jinping said that he attaches great importance to the development of bilateral relations, and stands ready to work with President Ismail Omar Guelleh to continue firmly supporting each other on issues concerning each other’s core interests and major concerns, effectively implement the outcomes of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), continuously add new dimension to the China-Djibouti comprehensive strategic partnership, and deliver greater benefits to the peoples of both countries.