MOGADISHU, Somalia - Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo has received the credential letters of a new Belgian Ambassador to Somalia Nicolas Nihon on Tuesday, Garowe Online reports.

Farmajo and Nihon discussed the bilateral relationship between Somalia and Belgium, agreeing to prop up the relations during a special accreditation ceremony organized at the Presidential Palace in Mogadishu.

The new envoy has conveyed greeting from the King of Belgium, Philippe Léopold to Farmajo during the meeting at Villa Somalia in Mogadishu, according to a statement released by the office of the president.

Somalia's deputy Foreign Affairs Minister, Mukhtar Mahad Daud said the appointment of the new diplomat is timely and vital to the country as Belgium is set to host an International conference on Somalia.

"Belgium was one of the EU countries that have not diplomatic representation in Somalia. Today it appointed a new ambassador to Mogadishu. This is a signal for the progress we have made towards the international relations," said Daud.

For his part, Ambassador Nihon thanked the President for the warm reception and accepting his credentials, noting that his country is very eager to re-establish a strong and deep diplomatic relationship based on cooperation and mutual interest with Somalia.

Over the past few years, the Belgian Government has played a massive role in Somalia by hosting several donor summits in its capital, Brussels. 

GAROWE ONLINE