By media office of Gambia’s foreign affairs ministry
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad of the Republic of The Gambia hereby informs the general public that following the Seventh (7th) Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation convened in Beijing in September 2018 and which brought together China and fifty-three (53) African countries and the African Union (AU), His Excellency WANG Yi, State Councillor and Minister for Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China executed an official visit to the Republic of The Gambia from 5th to 6th January 2019.
Minister WANG’s visit to The Gambia aimed to assess the current status of the bilateral relations between the two countries and also to explore new areas of cooperation as a follow up to the pledge made by His Excellency Xi Jingping, President of the People’s Republic of China at the Summit to provide technical assistance and build capacity for manufacturing and trade in Africa as the backbone of the development cooperation between China and the African continent under eight initiatives known as the ‘Belt and Road Initiative’
During his visit, Minister WANG Yi held bilateral talks with his counterpart the Honourable Mamadou Tangara, Minister for Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad in the course of which the Chinese and Gambian Sides reviewed the current status of the on-going projects and programmes launched by the Government of The Gambia and supported and funded by the Government of the People’s Republic of China. The two Sides also held talks relevant to other areas of cooperation both at the bilateral and multilateral levels.
While in Banjul, Minister WANG was also received in audience at State House by His Excellency Adama Barrow, President of the Republic of The Gambia, in the presence of His Excellency the Vice President of the Republic, Cabinet Ministers and other Senior Government Officials.
President Barrow thanked His Excellency President Xi through Minister WANG and expressed profound thanks and appreciation to the Government of the People’s Republic of China for all the financial support and technical assistance it has and continues to grant to the Government of The Gambia, and reiterated his Government’s adherence to the one China policy.
Minister WANG expressed happiness in visiting The Gambia and highlighted his delight in the fact that the implementation of the programmes and projects under the aegis of the cooperation between the two countries was going on smoothly and reiterated his wish to further strengthen the relationship based on amity and results in good faith under win-win cooperation.
Minister WANG Yi departed Banjul on 6th January 2019.