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China’s new foreign minister chooses Africa as first destination of first official visit abroad
Monday, January 16, 2023
The cooperation between China and Benin, which is more than 50 years old, is growing stronger day by day. The new head of Chinese diplomacy made a working visit to Benin on Friday January 13, 2023 as part of an African tour he started on Monday January 9. This is his first trip abroad, particularly to Africa.
Mr. Qin Gang was introduced to the office of the Head of State at the Palais de la Marina by his Beninese counterpart Aurélien Agbenonci. With President Patrice Talon, the new head of Chinese diplomacy reviewed the projects in progress. The two personalities appreciated their implementation for the necessary measures to be taken in order to amplify their impact. During this audience, it was also a question of scrutinizing new horizons to consolidate Sino-Beninese cooperation.
At the end of his meeting with the Head of State of Benin, Mr. Qin Gang indicated that he had long and fruitful exchanges with the President of the Republic. The Chinese diplomat, after thanking the Beninese Head of State for having immediately received him on his arrival, praised the development actions underway in Benin under his leadership. He undertook to intensify cooperation between his country and Benin for the perfect realization of the Government’s Action Program which carries within it the seeds of sustainable development in Benin. Qin Gang will also encourage Chinese companies to come and invest in Benin.
“China intends to work together with Benin to materialize the projects agreed by the two parties within the framework of the implementation of the nine programs of Africa-China cooperation for the next three years, programs selected during the Forum on Sino Cooperation -African (FCSA). These are infrastructure projects in the manufacturing and health sectors. There are also priority cooperation projects that our two countries must work on to ensure implementation in the service of the well-being of the people of Benin,” he said.
Born March 19, 1966 in Tianjin, Qin Gang is a Chinese diplomat and politician. He officiated between 2005 and 2010 as Deputy Director General of the Department of Information and spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. From 2014 to 2017, the new head of Chinese diplomacy was Director General of the ministry’s protocol department. He became Deputy Foreign Minister of China in 2017, then Vice Foreign Minister of China in September 2018. Prior to his appointment as Foreign Minister on December 30, 2022, Qin Gang was Chinese Ambassador to the United States (2021–2022). He undertook this African tour for the reinforcement of the bonds of cooperation between his country China and the African continent.
Were present at this audience the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Mr. Aurélien Agbenonci, the Ambassador of Benin to the People’s Republic of China, Simon Pierre Adovelande and the Director of the Military Cabinet of the Head of State, General Bertin bada.
