Djibouti

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.

In 2013, the friendly relations and cooperation between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Djibouti continued to maintain the sound momentum of growth.

The two countries maintained close political exchanges. In March, President Ismail Omar Guelleh sent a letter of congratulations to President Xi Jinping on his election as President of China. In April, President Guelleh sent a letter of condolences to President Xi on the earthquake in Lushan County, Sichuan Province. In April, Ai Ping, Vice Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, visited Djibouti. In May, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Mhamoud Ali Youssouf and Minister of Economy, Finance and Industry Ilyas Moussa Dawaleh visited China. In August, Minister of Health Kassim Issak Osman attended the Ministerial Forum on China-Africa Health Development in China. In December, Minister of Defense Hassan Darar Houffaneh visited China and had talks and meetings with Vice Chairman of the CPC Central Military Commission General Fan Changlong and State Councilor and CHINA'S RELATIONS WITH COUNTRIES HAVING DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH CHINA Minister of Defense General Chang Wanquan respectively.

In May, China's new Ambassador to Djibouti Fu Huaqiang presented his credentials to President Guelleh.

Economic cooperation and trade made new achievements. In May, the inaugural meeting of the China-Djibouti Joint Economic and Trade Committee was held in Beijing. The projects with Chinese assistance including construction of the Arta Hospital, renovation of the People's Palace and solar power projects were completed. Projects with the participation of Chinese enterprises like the Djibouti section of the Addis Ababa-Djibouti Railway, Doraleh Multifunction Port and Djibouti-Ethiopia Water Supply Project were well underway.

The two countries maintained exchange and cooperation in other areas. The 13th, 14th and 15th escort fleets of the Chinese navy called at the Port of Djibouti for replenishment. The 17th Chinese medical team arrived in Djibouti and started its work.