On February 15, 2011, Togolese President Faure Gnassingbe met with visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi in Kara, the second largest city of Togo.

During their meeting, Faure Gnassingbe told Yang that Togo highly appreciates China's equal treatment of and genuine assistance to Togo and other African countries. He also expressed gratitude for China's enormous support to Togo's socio-economic development over the years. The president said that his country firmly adheres to the one-China policy, attaches great importance to its relations with China, hopes to expand mutually beneficial cooperation in agriculture, infrastructure construction, health and other areas and welcomes more Chinese companies to explore business opportunities in Togo. Togo is ready to enhance coordination with China on African and global affairs, Faure Gnassingbe said. He also thanked China for offering help for Togo's successful participation in the 2010 World Expo.

Yang, for his part, congratulated on Togo's economic development under Faure Gnassingbe's leadership and the visible improvement of the Togolese people's livelihood, and appreciated Togo's constructive role in promoting peace, stability and development in Africa.

Since establishing diplomatic relations 39 years ago, China and Togo have maintained brotherly ties with their friendship growing ever stronger, the Chinese foreign minister said. China backs Togo in its efforts to defend national sovereignty and preserve political stability, said Yang, adding that China appreciates Togo's adherence to the one-China policy and its valuable support to China on issues concerning China's core interests. China-Togo economic cooperation and trade have borne rich fruit, telecommunications and infrastructure construction have become the new highlights of bilateral cooperation, and two-way exchanges in culture, education, health, military affairs and other areas have also gained increasing momentum, all contributing to a better mutual understanding and a deeper friendship between the two nations, he said.

With the 40th anniversary of the establishment of China-Togo relations approaching, China is ready to seize the opportunity to work together with the Togolese side to raise their friendly cooperation to higher levels, Yang said. The two sides, he said, should further broaden friendly exchanges, reinforce the political foundation of bilateral cooperation and explore their potential of practical collaboration. China will, as always, help Togo with its socio-economic development as much as China's ability allows, properly implement their agreed projects and encourage Chinese enterprises and financial institutions to participate in Togo's infrastructure construction, the minister said. Meanwhile, concerted efforts should be made to comprehensively boost bilateral exchanges in social and cultural areas, promote communication and coordination on international affairs and thus push forward the China-Togo relationship in an all-round way, Yang said, adding that both sides should also enhance communication and coordination in international affairs to jointly cope with global challenges.

On the same day, Yang held talks with his Togolese counterpart Elliot Ohin. Both sides agreed to expand friendly exchanges, consolidate political trust, strengthen solidarity and coordination and safeguard common interests. They also pledged to tap cooperation potential, uplift the level of their cooperation, enrich humanities exchanges and build up the friendship between both peoples. The two sides signed the economic and technical cooperation agreement. Yang, accompanied by Ohin and Togolese Minister of Health Komlan Mally, also visited a hospital built with Chinese aid.

Yang arrived in Kara on February 15 for his official visit to Togo.