Chinese, Malian FMs agree to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation

NEW YORK -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop agreed to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation during their meeting on Tuesday on the sidelines of the ongoing 77th session of the UN General Assembly.

Noting that the current international situation is complex and volatile with increasing uncertainties, Wang said China is willing to work with Mali to sustain mutual understanding, support and trust, carry forward the traditional friendship between the two countries and enhance mutually beneficial cooperation.

Wang said China attaches importance to Mali's rightful national sovereignty, security and development concerns and supports the Malian people in independently choosing a development path tailored to its national conditions.

He added that China also supports Mali in combating terrorism and safeguarding national unity and will continue to provide support and assistance for Mali's stable development.

Taking the opportunity of implementing the outcomes of the Eighth Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, Wang said China is ready to strengthen cooperation with Mali in public health, infrastructure construction and agricultural development, speed up the assistance of COVID-19 vaccine and anti-pandemic supplies, and orderly advance assistance projects such as hydropower stations, solar energy pilot villages and agricultural technology cooperation.

Wang said he hopes Mali will continue to take effective measures to ensure the safety of Chinese institutions and personnel and create a more stable and secure environment for bilateral cooperation.

For his part, Diop noted that China is Mali's good friend and good partner, saying that Mali sincerely thanks China's solidarity and friendship; support for Mali's efforts to safeguard its sovereignty, independence, political stability and national unity; and precious help for Mali's economic and social development.

He added that Mali is also a reliable partner for China, saying that his country firmly adheres to the one-China policy and supports the Chinese side in defending its core interests.

The Malian side is ready to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation with China and will take all necessary measures and spare no effort to protect the safety of the Chinese friends in Mali, Diop said.

Wang stressed that China is willing to work with Mali to sustain the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries and uphold international fairness and justice.

China is committed to providing public goods for the world, promoting peace, development and cooperation instead of war, interference or subversion, Wang said.

The more China develops, the more support it will offer to developing countries; the more powerful China becomes, the better world peace and security can be guaranteed, Wang said, adding that China stands ready to strengthen solidarity and cooperation with all developing countries and safeguard the common interests.