On August 28, 2018, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met in Beijing with Minister for Foreign Affairs Marcel Amon-Tanoh of Cote d'Ivoire who accompanied the President for the visit to China and the attendance at the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).

Wang Yi expressed that the Chinese side welcomes President Alassane Ouattara of Cote d'Ivoire to pay a state visit to China on the sidelines of the FOCAC Beijing Summit. The Chinese side is willing to grasp the development direction of China-Cote d'Ivoire relations from a strategic height and long-term perspective, and pursue mutual support with Cote d'Ivoire on issues concerning each other's core interests and major concerns in a firmer manner. The Chinese side stands ready to take the signing of the memorandum of understanding on jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative between China and Cote d'Ivoire as an opportunity to elevate the level of cooperation between the two countries in an all-round manner, help the Cote d'Ivoire side improve independent development capabilities, and further enhance cooperation in international affairs, so as to safeguard the common interests of the two countries, Africa and the vast number of developing countries.

Marcel Amon-Tanoh said that Cote d'Ivoire and China enjoy a long-term friendship, and cooperation between the two countries serves as a model of Africa-China cooperation. The Cote d'Ivoire side admires the great development achievements the Chinese side has made, attaches importance to China's increasingly important international status, and highly praises the important concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind proposed by President Xi Jinping. The Cote d'Ivoire side has actively supported and participated in the construction of the Belt and Road Initiative, deeply realized the rare opportunity brought by China's development to the world and Africa, and recognized the Africa-China cooperation pattern featuring mutual benefit and win-win results advocated by the Chinese side. The Cote d'Ivoire side sincerely thanks the Chinese side's long-term support and assistance to its development, and stands ready to take the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative as an opportunity to deepen cooperation in various fields with the Chinese side, constantly elevate the level of bilateral relations, and make contributions to promoting the building of China-Africa community of shared future.

Both sides agreed to enhance coordination and cooperation, jointly promote the upcoming FOCAC Beijing Summit for a complete success, and inject strong impetus into the development of China-Africa comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.