Sino-Benin cooperation creates huge potential amid FOCAC: Benin Ambassador

Bilateral relations between China and Benin are on good terms, while the latter is ready to intensify its cooperation with China under the framework of the “Belt and Road” and the 2018 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), with a focus on e-commerce, noted Benin Ambassador, Simon Pierre Adovelande.

The remarks came ahead of the FOCAC summit's successful opening in Beijing on Monday, making Adovelande one of the African politicians to further promote Sino-African relations during the event.

“I’m looking forward to the upcoming summit, as it will serve as a new milestone for Sino-African relations, marking the maturity of China and Africa’s cooperation. More importantly, China has included African countries in its shared future, so surely, we can expect fruitful results from the summit,” said Adovelande.

Fostering friendly ties with Benin for the past 46 years, China has become the African country's third largest trade partner, with an annual trade volume of $2 billion. Though Benin is not a country along the Belt and Road, it plans to take part in the initiative to consolidate its trade with China.

“Benin’s national strategies can dovetail with the Belt and Road Initiative, as it has provided Benin new opportunities to expand its cooperation with other African nations, as well as support the nation’s future development,” added Adovelande.

According to Adovelande, Benin is now focusing on e-commerce, an industry in which China has rich experience. He believes that further cooperation in this emerging area will benefit both sides, while further collaboration in custom services and the Internet are needed.

“China is a superpower in e-commerce, while Benin is at the starting point in this industry. For now, our online merchants have no access to the Chinese market, but within time, products from Benin are expected to reach China,” said Adovelande.