Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday met with Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, who is in Beijing for the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).
The two leaders jointly announced the elevation of bilateral relations to a strategic partnership.
China and Chad have engaged in mutually beneficial cooperation and achieved substantial results under frameworks such as the Belt and Road Initiative and FOCAC, Xi said.
China has been Chad’s largest trading and investment partner for years, and their pragmatic cooperation has improved the well-being of both peoples, said Xi, adding that China is willing to further synergize development strategies with Chad and push for new progress in bilateral relations.
Xi noted China highly appreciates Chad’s firm support for China on issues related to China’s core interests and major concerns and will continue to support Chadian people in choosing independently their development path and safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests.
The Chinese president called on the two sides to strengthen contacts, expand conceptual consensus, consolidate mutual political trust and firmly support each other.
Xi added that the two sides should insist on mutual benefit and a win-win situation and deepen practical cooperation.
China welcomes Chad to make good use of the results of the 2024 FOCAC summit to deepen bilateral economic and trade cooperation as well as enhance its capacity for independent development and achieve common development, Xi stressed.
He also voiced the willingness to work with Chad to promote the implementation of the Global Security Initiative, safeguard national security and stability, and work together as a stabilizing force for peace.
The Chadian president expressed his gratitude to the Chinese side for inviting and warmly receiving him to attend the 2024 FOCAC summit, saying it fully reflected the friendship between Chad and China.
He also thanked China for its valuable assistance to Chad’s economic and social development and vowed to stay firmly committed to further deepening friendly and mutually beneficial cooperation with China.
Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno also noted China’s sustained development will bring more opportunities for the development of Chad, Africa and even the world.
Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory, and Chad will continue to firmly abide by the one-China principle, he added.
(With input from Xinhua)