Cote d'Ivoire

Note: This column mainly includes countries along the Belt and Road and countries that have signed cooperation agreements with China on Belt and Road Initiative.

The year 2013 marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, and the friendly cooperative relations enjoyed sound development in the year.

The two sides held grand celebrations for the 30th anniversary of diplomatic ties. In March, congratulatory messages were exchanged between President Hu Jintao and President Alassane Ouattara, and between Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Charles Koffi Diby. The two sides issued commemorative envelopes and held receptions and other events in Beijing and Abidjan to mark the anniversary. A Chinese art troupe from Nanjing dedicated its performance in Côte d'Ivoire to the celebration.

The two countries maintained good momentum of high-level exchanges. In January, President Hu Jintao sent a message of condolences to President Ouattara following the severe stampede in Abidjan. In March, President Xi Jinping held a breakfast meeting with some leaders of African countries, including President Ouattara, when he was in Durban, South Africa for the fifth BRICS Summit. Ambassador Zhong Jianhua, Special Representative of the Chinese Government on African Affairs, visited Côte d'Ivoire and met with Prime Minister Daniel Kablan Duncan and Minister of African Integration and Ivorians in the Diaspora Ally Coulibaly. In March, President Ouattara sent a congratulatory message to President Xi on his election as President of China. Daniel Kablan Duncan, Ivorian Prime Minister and Minister for Economy, Finance and Budget, sent a letter of congratulations to Premier Li Keqiang on his assumption of office. In April and August, President Ouattara sent letters of condolences to President Xi following the earthquake in Lushan County, Sichuan Province and the earthquake in Gansu Province respectively. From 17 to 23 November, Kigbafory Guillaume Soro, President of the National Assembly of Côte d'Ivoire, visited China, where he had talks with NPC Chairman Zhang Dejiang and met with Vice President Li Yuanchao. During the talks and meeting, the two sides reached important agreement on deepening the bilateral relations and stepping up friendly exchanges between the legislative bodies of the two countries.

Economic cooperation and trade yielded fruitful results. In February and March, President Ouattara attended the ground-breaking ceremony of Soubré Hydropower Plant and the Opening Ceremony of the Gagnoa Hospital respectively. In May, a Chinese government business delegation headed by Vice Commerce Minister Li Jinzao paid a visit to Côte d'Ivoire. During the visit, Vice Minister Li Jinzao met with Prime Minister Duncan, co-hosted the second meeting of the China-Côte d'Ivoire Joint Economic and Trade Committee with Ivorian Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Diby and signed cooperative agreements including an economic and technological cooperation agreement with the Ivorian side.

There were dynamic exchanges between the localities of the two countries. In June, Governor of the Abidjan District Beugré Robert Mambe attended the Second Dialogue for Chinese and African Governors and Mayors in China. In August, Feng Zuoku, Vice President of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, visited the District of Abidjan.