Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Beninese Foreign Minister Shegun Adjadi Bakari hailed bilateral ties in a meeting in Beijing on Thursday, the first day of Bakari’s official visit to China.

Beninese President Patrice Talon made a successful visit to China in September, when the two countries’ leaders jointly announced the establishment of a strategic partnership between China and Benin, which will lead bilateral ties to a new stage, said Wang, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.

China-Benin relations have maintained a high level of development, with mutual political trust and solid progress in various fields of cooperation, Wang said, adding that China attaches great importance to its relations with Benin and is willing to lead the development of bilateral relations based on the important consensus reached by the two countries’ leaders, promoting greater development in bilateral relations.

He said China will continue to firmly support Benin in pursuing a development path that suits its national conditions and be a sincere friend and reliable partner for Benin in its exploration and promotion of its own modernization. 

Both sides should vigorously expand pragmatic cooperation in trade, investment, energy, culture, human resources, and other fields, and welcome Benin’s active participation in implementing global development initiatives, Wang said.

Bakari said Benin is ready to work with China to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, promote common values, strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation, and push Benin-China relations to achieve greater development.

Benin highly appreciates the efforts made by the Chinese government to promote a cessation of hostilities in the Gaza Strip, especially the crucial role it played in the adoption of the ceasefire resolution by the UN Security Council, Bakari said.

He said Benin is willing to strengthen coordination with China in the United Nations Human Rights Council, jointly safeguard the interests of developing countries, and promote the healthy development of international human rights.

(Cover: The national flags of Benin and China flutter in Beijing, August 31, 2023. /CFP)