Xiplomacy: How close people-to-people bond consolidates cooperation between China, Eritrea

Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcome ceremony for President Isaias Afwerki of the State of Eritrea at the square outside the east entrance of the Great Hall of the People prior to their talks in Beijing, capital of China, May 15, 2023. [Xinhua, Wang Ye]

In the port city of Massawa, Eritrea, a piece of pottery displayed in a museum tells a story of friendship and exchanges between people of the East African country and China that dates back two thousand years ago.

The brown article, with four Chinese characters -- "Wan," "He," "Chan" and "Shan" -- engraved on it, was unearthed along the Red Sea coast in northern Eritrea where the ancient city of Adulis was found.