On December 26, 2016, Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks in Beijing with Foreign Minister Urbino Botelho of Sao Tome and Principe.

Wang Yi expressed that the resumption of diplomatic relations with China is a correct political decision and strategic choice of Sao Tome and Principe, which conforms to the fundamental interests of the country and its people, complies with the development and progress trend of the era, and gains wide welcome from the international community. The one-China policy is a broad consensus of the international community and a basic norm governing international relations. China believes that Sao Tome and Principe will stick to the one-China policy with practical actions and support China's great cause of peaceful reunification.

Wang Yi pointed out that China is willing to, together with Sao Tome and Principe, adhere to the correct direction of the one-China policy, build the two major foundations of political mutual trust and friendship between both peoples, and carry out mutually beneficial cooperation in tourism, agriculture and fishery, so as to help Sao Tome and Principe to develop economy, improve livelihood and increase its capability of self-development. China welcomes Sao Tome and Principe to return to the big family of China-Africa friendly cooperation and become a member of the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries. China is willing to carry out friendly and mutually beneficial cooperation with Sao Tome and Principe under these two cooperation mechanisms.

Urbino Botelho expressed that as a major country with important international influence, China is a sincere friend and cooperation partner of Africa. China always safeguards the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries, and has once made significant contributions to the cause of national independence of Sao Tome and Principe and Africa. Today, after assessing the situation, Sao Tome and Principe decides to correct its historical mistake and resume diplomatic relations with China, thus opening a new chapter in bilateral relations. Sao Tome and Principe stands ready to, together with China, respect each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity, avoid interfering in each other's internal affairs, firmly adhere to the one-China policy and respect and support China's core interests and major concerns. Now committed to national construction and industrialization process, Sao Tome and Principe hopes to conduct mutually beneficial cooperation with the Chinese side, and welcomes Chinese enterprises and tourists to invest, develop business and travel in the country.

After the talks, both sides jointly signed the Joint Communiqué between the People's Republic of China and the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe on Resumption of Diplomatic Relations.