On July 10, 2018, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met in Beijing with Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Mahamoud Ali Youssouf of Djibouti who was in China for the 8th Ministerial Meeting of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum (CASCF).

Wang Yi expressed that President Ismail Omar Guelleh paid a successful visit to China last November, becoming the first African head of state that President Xi Jinping received after the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. The two heads of state unanimously agreed to identify China-Djibouti relations as strategic partnership, charting the course for the development of bilateral relations. The important consensus reached by the two heads of state has been effectively implemented. China-Djibouti cooperation has increasingly benefited the two peoples and also contributed to maintaining regional peace and stability. In the next stage, both sides should understand and support each other more firmly on issues concerning respective core interests and major concerns, strengthen strategic communication and coordination, and enhance cooperation in various fields by taking in-depth advancement of the Belt and Road cooperation as an opportunity, in a bid to elevate bilateral relations to a new level.

Mahamoud Ali Youssouf noted that Djibouti congratulated on the complete success of the 8th CASCF Ministerial Meeting, highly appreciated President Xi Jinping's lofty speech at the opening ceremony of the Ministerial Meeting, and had full confidence in the future of the Arab states-China strategic partnership. Djibouti stands ready to make contributions to promoting Arab states-China cooperation and Africa-China cooperation. Djibouti has always attached great importance to its relations with China and thanks China for its long-term assistance to the development of Djibouti. Djibouti is ready to constantly strengthen bilateral practical cooperation and continue to provide support and assistance for the operation of the Chinese support base in Djibouti.