Prime Minster Abdoulaye Idrissa Maïga of Mali Meets with Wang Yi

On May 21, 2017, entrusted by President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta Mali who was attending meeting abroad, Prime Minister Abdoulaye Idrissa Maïga of Mali met with Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the Office of Prime Minister in Bamako.

Abdoulaye Idrissa Maïga said that Mali and China have always been maintaining a brotherhood with each other. Regarding China as its strategic partnership, the Malian side expresses gratitude to China for the long-term support and assistance in Mali’s development, and is willing to, together with China, positively implement the outcomes of Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, deepen bilateral practical cooperation, and intensify personnel exchanges, so as to better benefit Mali and the two peoples. Speaking highly of China’s support to Mali in maintaining its national peace and stability, the country appreciates China’s involvement in the peace-keeping action conducted by the UN, and once again expresses the condolences over the Chinese soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the action. The Malian side highly values China’s role in international affairs, and hopes the Chinese side would provide assistance to the effort made by Mali and Sahel G5 Mechanism in keeping regional peace and fighting against terrorism. The country is willing to keep close communication and coordination with China on the reform of Security Council and other issues.

Wang Yi said that China and Mali are good friends, good brothers through thick and thin. China firmly supports Mali’s efforts in upholding its sovereignty, security and unity, staunchly backs its peace and reconciliation process, firmly supports the country to explore a development path suitable to its national situation, and steadfastly supports Mali to oppose and fight against terrorism. The Chinese side always supports African countries to address African issues with their own ways, and continues to speaking from a sense of justice in multilateral mechanisms like UN Security Council to uphold Mali’s legitimate rights and interests. In the next step, China will give full play to the unique advantage of the traditional friendly relations between the two countries, focus on reinforcing cooperation in three prior areas including infrastructure construction, human resource development and peace and security area, and mainly support Mali to improve the level of agricultural development and gradually build the industrial system, in a bid to realize independent and sustainable development.

(From the MInistry of Foreign Affairs)