I. Bilateral political relations
The People’s Republic of China and the Republic of Benin established diplomatic relations on November 12, 1964. In January 1966, Beninese unilaterally broke off diplomatic relations with China. On December 29, 1972, the Kérékou government resumed diplomatic relations with China. In September 2023, the two countries established a strategic partnership.
In recent years, China-Benin relations have developed in a good momentum, and the mutual political trust has continued to increase. Benin President Patrice Talon paid a state visit to China in September 2023, Vice President Mariam Chabi Talata attended the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in September 2024, and Foreign Minister Olushegun Adjadi Bakari visited China in March 2024.
II. Bilateral economic and trade relations, and economic and technological cooperation
China and Benin have established a mixed committee on economic and trade cooperation. The fifth meeting of the mixed committee was held in Beijing in July 2023.
In 2024, bilateral trade volume between China and Benin was 1.107 billion US dollars, of which China’s export volume were 966 million US dollars and import volume were 141 million US dollars. China mainly exported textiles and electromechanical products and imported cotton. In June 2019, China and Benin signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in jointly building the “Belt and Road”. In September 2019, China and Benin signed a protocol on the import of Beninese soybeans to China, allowing the import of Beninese soybeans that meet relevant requirements. In July 2020, the first batch of Beninese soybeans arrived at the Jiangsu port.
III. Cooperation in culture, education, health, consular affairs, etc.
China and Benin signed a agreement on cultural cooperation in 1984. China has established a “Chinese Cultural Center” in Cotonou, which is one of the earliest cultural centers established by China in Africa. China has built a Confucius Institute at the University of Abomey-Calavi. Ningbo Vocational and Technical College has jointly built a Lu Ban workshop with Akasssato China-Benin Friendship Technical School in Benin.
The two countries have signed a protocol on China’s dispatch of medical teams to Benin. Since 1978, China has sent a total of 638 medical personnel of 27 batches to Benin. Currently, there are 22 Chinese medical personnel in Benin. In September 2023, the health departments of the two countries signed the Agreement on the 2023 “Light Journey” Cataract Surgery Project in Benin. In November of the same year, within the project 232 cataract surgeries were successfully completed in Benin, and free medical treatments were provided to more than 100 people. In October 2024, the Chinese Navy’s “Peace Ark” hospital ship successfully visited Benin for the first time.
In May 1992, China and Benin signed a mutual visa exemption agreement for holders of diplomatic and service passports, as well as passports for public affairs and ordinary passports with official certificates, which came into effect in November 1993. In September 2023, Benin granted visa exemption to Chinese citizens holding ordinary Chinese passports, which took effect on September 20, 2023, with a maximum visa-free stay of 30 days. Benin has an honorary consulate in Hong Kong.
In 1987, the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region in China and the province of Borgou in Benin established a sister-city relationship. In 2012, Ningbo City in Zhejiang Province and Cotonou City of Benin signed a friendly relations agreement.