On January 3, 2012, Cote d'Ivoire President Alassane Ouattara met with visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi in Abidjan.

Ouattara said that Cote d'Ivoire attaches great importance to the role China has played in the international and regional affairs, and appreciates the firm support China has offered to Cote d'Ivoire in its national reconciliation and economic restoration.

He said the government of Cote d'Ivoire unswervingly pursues a friendly foreign policy to China, and the bilateral relationship between Cote d'Ivoire and China could withstand tests. The president said that Cote d'Ivoire boasts important geographical position and has great economic development potential, hoping to boost the existing ties and develop pragmatic cooperation to benefit the peoples of the two countries.

For his part, Yang congratulated Cote d'Ivoire on the smooth process of implementing the national reconciliation and reconstruction under the leadership of President Ouattara, saying that China and Cote d'Ivoire have reached broad agreements on further enhancing bilateral relations established on the basis of principles of sincere friendship, mutual respect and equal treatment. The Chinese side attaches great importance to friendly cooperation with Cote d'Ivoire and is glad to see accelerated development of bilateral cooperation in various fields. Yang said China would like to join hands with Cote d'Ivoire to boost high-level exchanges and political trust, expand pragmatic cooperation in economic, trade and other fields, enrich people-to-people and cultural exchanges and strengthen coordination in international and regional affairs to push the friendly cooperative relations to a higher level.

As an old sincere friend and partner of Africa, China would be as devoted as ever to promoting peace and development in Africa and common development of China and Africa, Yang said. They also exchanged views on international and regional issues of common concern and held a joint press conference.

Yang arrived in Cote d'Ivoire on January 3 for an official visit. On the same day, Yang held talks with Minister of State and Minister of Foreign Affairs Duncan of Cote d'Ivoire and both sides signed the bilateral economic and technological cooperation agreement.