China, Burkina Faso agree to open new chapter of bilateral friendly cooperation

Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) holds a welcoming ceremony for President of Burkina Faso Roch Marc Christian Kabore before their talks at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 31, 2018. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday held talks with Burkina Faso President Roch Marc Christian Kabore in Beijing, and the two leaders agreed to open a new chapter of bilateral friendly cooperation on the momentum of the restoration of diplomatic ties.

Kabore, on a state visit to China, is to attend the 2018 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) scheduled for Sept. 3 and 4.

Burkina Faso's first time participating in the forum is of great importance for the development of China's relations with not only Burkina Faso but also Africa, said Xi, adding that China highly appreciates Kabore's political determination to resume diplomatic ties with China.

Bilateral relations between the two countries have made encouraging progress and are off to a good start since China and Burkina Faso resumed diplomatic ties three months ago, said Xi.

China will plan and promote the bilateral ties with a strategic and long-term perspective and is willing to continuously enhance political mutual trust, carry out exchanges and mutual learning, promote bilateral cooperation in various fields in a comprehensive and orderly manner and open a new chapter of friendly cooperation in the new era on the principle of equality and mutual trust as well as win-win cooperation, said Xi.

China supports Burkina Faso's efforts to fight terrorism and maintain stability in the country and in the region, said Xi.

Kabore said the Burkina Faso government recognizes there is but one China in the world, that the Government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China.

Burkina Faso highly values China's commitment of multilateralism and win-win cooperation in international affairs, said Kabore.

Thanks to China's great concern for African people's demands and support to Africa's development, Burkina Faso independently made its decision to restore diplomatic relations with China and return to the family of Africa-China cooperation, which fully conforms to the direction of Burkina Faso's future development, said Kabore.

Kabore said Burkina Faso is satisfied with the rapid advancement and positive achievements of the bilateral cooperation since the restoration of diplomatic ties, adding that the country is willing to learn from China's ideas and theories of development, enhance political mutual trust and deepen practical cooperation in various fields.

Burkina Faso appreciates the leadership China has demonstrated in the framework of FOCAC and expects the FOCAC Beijing Summit will inject new impetus to the development of Burkina Faso-China relations and Africa-China relations, said Kabore.

After the meeting, the two leaders witnessed the signing of cooperation documents.