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Cote d’Ivoire, China celebrate 25th anniversary of diplomatic ties
ABIDJAN—Cote d’Ivoire and
China celebrated on Friday the 25th anniversary of the establishment of
their diplomatic relations.
At a reception held on the occasion, Cote d’Ivoire’s Minister of Youth,
Sports and Leisures Dagobert Banzio said the two countries have made
satisfactory achievements in various fields in the past 25 years. Banzio,
speaking on behalf of Foreign Minister Youssouf Bakayoko, said Cote
d’Ivoire is grateful for China’s assistance to its peace process and
will firmly support China’s reunification.
The minister also urged more mutually beneficial cooperation and
welcomed Chinese companies to invest in Cote d’Ivoire. Chinese
Ambassador Wei Wenhua said bilateral ties have been developing in a
satisfactory way and thanked Cote d’Ivoire’s support for China’s
reunification cause and the African country’s cooperation with China on
many international issues.
Cote d’Ivoire’s President Laurent Gbagbo said Thursday that his country
is ready to make concerted efforts with China to deepen cooperation in
various fields.
Gbagbo made the remarks when accepting credentials from Wei Wenhua,
China’s new ambassador to his country, at the presidential palace. He
spoke highly of the progress of the Cote d’Ivoire-China friendly
relations of cooperation, and expressed appreciation for China’s support
for the Western African nation’s peace process and socioeconomic
development.
The president reiterated the one-China policy, which he said his
government will never change the position. Cote d’Ivoire will
unswervingly adhere to the policy to support China’s great cause of
reunification, and continue to develop and deepen the existing friendly
relations of cooperation between the two countries, Gbagbo said. For his
part, Wei conveyed Chinese President Hu Jintao’s greetings to Gbagbo. He
praised the healthy development of bilateral relations and fruitful
cooperation in various fields since the two nations established
diplomatic ties more than 20 years ago.—Xinhua |
