Friendship with Mali to be carried forward

President Xi Jinping and his Malian counterpart Assimi Goita announced on Monday the elevation of China-Mali bilateral ties to a strategic partnership.

China is ready to carry forward its bilateral traditional friendship with Mali, continue to firmly support each other, and provide assistance within its capacity for Mali's economic development and improvement of people's livelihoods, Xi said during his meeting with Goita in Beijing.

China will continue to encourage Chinese companies to invest in the West African country, and deepen cooperation in areas such as agriculture, energy, mineral development and infrastructure construction, Xi said, adding that China hopes Mali will provide security guarantees and policy facilitation for Chinese enterprises.

Xi emphasized that China always supports African people to independently determine their future, and would like to join hands with Mali and other African nations to support each other in achieving modernization through paths that suit the national conditions of those countries.

Goita expressed his gratitude to China for aiding Mali's economic and social development, and said that Mali hopes to further consolidate its friendship with China as well as deepen mutually beneficial cooperation.

There is but one China in the world, and Mali firmly adheres to the one-China principle, he said, adding that both countries respect each other's national sovereignty and independence and oppose interference in other countries' internal affairs.

Mali appreciates China's efforts and contributions to promoting regional and world peace and development, and looks forward to closer multilateral cooperation with China, Goita added.

Zhao Leji, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, also met with the Malian president on Monday.