On March 2, 2023, President Xi Jinping exchanged congratulatory messages with President of Côte d'Ivoire Alassane Ouattara to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Xi Jinping noted that over the past 40 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, China and Côte d'Ivoire have always been sincere and friendly towards each other, rendering mutual support on issues concerning each other's core interests and major concerns, and becoming important friends and partners on the path of development and revitalization. At the end of last year, President Xi had a phone conversation with President Ouattara, and they reached new common understandings on deepening bilateral cooperation in various fields. President Xi said he attaches great importance to developing relations with Côte d'Ivoire, and is ready to work with President Ouattara to take the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries as an opportunity to consolidate mutual support, strengthen all-round cooperation, take China-Côte d'Ivoire relations to new levels to the greater benefit of the two peoples.

Ouattara said that over the past 40 years, bilateral relations have developed at a high level. He thanked China for its consistent support for Côte d'Ivoire's development in infrastructure, energy and other areas, and noted that Côte d'Ivoire is ready to strengthen cooperation with China to bring about a new era in bilateral friendly cooperative relations that features solidarity, mutual assistance, close exchanges and fruitful outcomes, and achieve new and greater development of bilateral ties.