Bilateral Political Relations

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Djibouti on January 8, 1979, cooperation in various fields between the two countries has developed smoothly. In January 2017, the relationship between China and Djibouti was elevated to a strategic partnership. In September 2024, the relationship was further upgraded to a comprehensive strategic partnership.

Important visits from the Chinese side include: Wang Jiarui, Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee (January 2010), State Councilor and Defense Minister Chang Wanquan (February 2014), President Xi Jinping's Special Envoy and Vice Chairperson of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress Yan Junqi (May 2016), Vice President Li Yuanchao (November 2016), Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission Fan Changlong (November 2016), Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Gu Shengzhu (June 2019), State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (January 2014, January 2020), Chairman of the Financial and Economic Committee of the National People's Congress Zhong Shan (September 2024), and Vice Chairperson of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress Zhang Qingwei (December 2024).

Important visits from the Djiboutian side include: President Ismail Omar Guelleh (visited China in March 2001, attended the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in November 2006, attended the opening ceremony of the Fifth Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and visited China in July 2012, made a state visit to China in November 2017, attended the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in September 2018, attended the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in April 2019, and attended the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in September 2024), Prime Minister Dileita Mohamed Dileita (visited China in September 2005, attended the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics in August 2008, and visited China officially as President of the National Assembly in January 2024), Foreign Minister Mahamoud Ali Youssouf (officially visited China in December 2009, attended the first China-Djibouti Economic and Trade Joint Committee meeting in China in May 2013, attended the Coordinators' Meeting on the Implementation of the Follow-up Actions of the Johannesburg Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in July 2016, attended the Eighth Ministerial Conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum in July 2018, and officially visited China in February 2019), and Prime Minister Abdoulkader Kamil Mohamed (attended the closing ceremony of the Nanjing Youth Olympic Games in August 2014).

Bilateral Economic and Trade Relations and Economic-Technical Cooperation
Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, economic and trade relations and economic and technical cooperation between China and Djibouti have progressed smoothly. Since 1979, China has provided aid to Djibouti, including the construction of the People's Palace, the Martyrs' Monument, the stadium, the outpatient building, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs office building, a renal dialysis room, and a small office building for the Presidential Palace. In 2024, the bilateral trade volume reached 3.06 billion USD. After the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, both sides actively engaged in cooperation to combat the pandemic, with China providing pandemic prevention supplies to Djibouti.

Exchanges and Cooperation in Culture, Education, Health, and Other Areas
China and Djibouti have signed a cultural cooperation agreement. China has been offering government scholarship quotas to Djibouti since 1986. China has been sending medical teams to Djibouti since 1981, with a total of 23 batches of medical team members.