From March 14 to 16, 2015, Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Ming visited Benin, and met and held talks respectively with President Thomas Boni Yayi and Foreign Minister Nassirou Bako Arifari of Benin, having in-depth exchanges of views on the bilateral relations and international and regional topics of common interest.

Vice Minister Zhang Ming and President Yayi

Zhang Ming said that China and Benin enjoy a profound traditional friendship. In recent years, with the joint efforts of both sides, the bilateral friendly and cooperative relations have gained a rapid and comprehensive development, with fruitful results in the bilateral friendly cooperation in fields such as infrastructure construction, agriculture, health care and culture. China is willing to continue working with Benin to further strengthen the friendly exchanges between the two countries at all levels and enhance practical cooperation, so as to promote the bilateral relations to better benefit the two peoples.

Vice Minister Zhang Ming holds working talks with Foreign Minister Bako

The Beninese side appreciated the selfless help provided by China over the years for the economic construction and social development of Benin, and said that the Benin-China relations have become one of the most fruitful foreign relations of Benin, and that China has become Benin’s most important cooperative partner and a great friend of the Beninese government and people. Benin attaches great importance to developing relations with China, and is willing to further strengthen the bilateral friendly cooperation in various fields and push the bilateral relations to another new level.

During the visit, Vice Minister Zhang Ming also gave interview to local mainstream media on the China-Benin relations and other topics.