On the afternoon of 18 November 2013, Zhang Dejiang, Chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, held talks at the Great Hall of the People with Cote d'Ivoire National Assembly Speaker Guillaume Soro.

Zhang Dejiang said that this year marks the 30th anniversary of China-Cote d'Ivoire diplomatic relationship. Over the 30 years, bilateral relations have enjoyed smooth development with steadily growing economic and trade cooperation and very active exchanges in culture, local contacts and other fields. China attaches great importance to developing relations with Cote d'Ivoire and is a reliable friend and a sincere partner of Cote d'Ivoire. The two countries are now committed to realizing their respective national blueprints. China is ready to work with Cote d'Ivoire, based on the principle of mutual respect and win-win outcomes, to deepen economic and trade cooperation and to actively join in Cote d'Ivoire's economic construction so as to promote common development.

Zhang Dejiang said that China and Africa are "community of common destiny" sharing weal and woe. Strengthening solidarity and cooperation with African countries is an important cornerstone of China's foreign policy as well as a long-term and firm strategic choice of China. The Third Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee has made strategic deployment for fully deepening reform. It will undoubtedly bring new development opportunities and provide new prospects of cooperation for China-Africa relations. China adheres to the principle of "sincerity, real results, affinity and good faith" and will work with African nations including Cote d'Ivoire to fully implement the important consensus reached during President Xi Jinping's visit to Africa so as to push for in-depth development of the new type of China-Africa strategic partnership and to benefit Chinese and African people.

Zhang Dejiang said that exchanges between legislative bodies are important part of state-to-state relations, are an important channel for the two countries to strengthen exchanges and enhance friendship and play an increasingly significant role in promoting the development of bilateral relations. The National Assembly Speaker's current visit will deepen exchanges between the two parliaments and inject fresh impetus into the development of China-Cote d'Ivoire relations. The NPC of China is ready to enhance friendly exchanges with the National Assembly of Cote d'Ivoire, to strengthen sharing of experience on legislation, supervision and state governance and to offer a sound legal environment for bilateral economic and trade cooperation and people-to-people and cultural exchanges, so as to ensure that cooperation between legislative bodies will become a positive force for promoting sustained and healthy development of China-Cote d'Ivoire relations.

Soro said that the enormous development achievements that the Chinese people have made through their own efforts and struggle are admirable. China's adherence to the position that all countries, big or small, are equal and should treat each other on friendly terms is respectable. Cote d'Ivoire views China as a good brother and a good friend and will continue adhering to the one-China policy. Cote d'Ivoire is ready to further strengthen friendly exchanges between the legislative bodies of the two countries and to learn from China for the experience of success on economic growth and improvement of people's livelihood so as to let Cote d'Ivoire-China friendship yield more fruitful outcomes.