Benin’s President Patrice Talon on Friday met with visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang in the country’s economic capital, Cotonou.
President Talon noted that Qin’s Africa tour after the inauguration, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the resumption of diplomatic relations between China and Benin, underlined the friendship and close ties between the two countries.
Talon said Benin valued the support and assistance it had received from China over the years and will continue to be a firm and reliable friend of China.
The Beninese president said China’s right development path had contributed to its remarkable achievements and has inspired many developing countries.
Talon also conveyed his hope to learn from China’s experience and to expand practical cooperation with China for accelerating Benin’s development and revitalization.
On his part, Qin expressed thanks for Benin’s understanding and support on issues related to China’s core interests and major concerns.
He expressed China’s willingness to continue to be a sincere partner of Benin, towards a shared development goal.
Qin pointed that China was looking forward to implementing the important consensus achieved by the two heads of state and the outcome of the 8th Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), as well as to promoting China-Benin relations to a new level.
Qin said that China will encourage more competent and reputable Chinese enterprises to invest and set up businesses in Benin, adding that he hoped Benin would safeguard the security and legitimate rights and interests of Chinese institutions and personnel in the country.
The Chinese foreign minister said that China was willing to strengthen exchange of experience in governance with Benin and support Benin’s development agenda.
Qin on Friday also held meetings with Benin’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and African Integration Aurelien Agbenonci, and the two sides signed cooperation documents in sectors like cultural exchange.
