On May 6, 2011, Benin's President Yayi met with visiting Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Zhai Jun in Cotonou, Benin.

Yayi said Benin-China relations of cooperation and mutual benefit have become firmer as time goes by. China has offered support in various forms to Benin and helped the country in education, medical care, agriculture and other sectors. The people of Benin are deeply moved by China's generosity. Benin is proud of its cooperation with China and of having such a cooperative partner like China. Benin hopes to enhance cooperation with China on infrastructure, renewable energy resources and grain and cotton production to uplift the level of bilateral cooperation. Yayi also reaffirmed Benin's adherence to the one-China policy.

Zhai conveyed President Hu's cordial greetings and good wishes to Yayi. He said since the resumption of diplomatic ties between the two countries 39 years ago, bilateral friendly cooperative relations have been developing in a sustained, stable manner. With the care and promotion of the leaders of the two countries, China-Benin political trust has been deepening in recent years. Both sides have kept closer coordination in international affairs, conducted fruitful cooperation of mutual benefit on economy and trade and maintained dynamic exchanges in the humanities area. In the second tenure of President Yayi, China is ready to work with Benin to keep closer friendly exchanges at all levels, advance pragmatic cooperation earnestly and expand contacts in the people-to-people and cultural areas so as to push the ties to a new level.

During his visit to Benin, Zhai held talks with Jean-Marie Ehouzou, Benin's Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Integration, Francophonie and Beninese Diaspora. Both sides exchanged views on bilateral ties as well as international and regional issues of common concern and signed the economic and technological cooperation agreement between the two governments.