President Xi Jinping accompanies Burkina Faso's President Roch Marc Christian Kabore at a welcoming ceremony on Friday at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. （Photo by Wang Zhuangfei/China Daily）
Progress of Burkina Faso's renewed ties wins praise
China and Burkina Faso have made encouraging progress in developing bilateral ties since the two nations resumed diplomatic relations three months ago, President Xi Jinping said on Friday.
Xi made the remark while meeting with Burkina Faso's President Roch Marc Christian Kabore at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
Witnessed by the two presidents, China and Burkina Faso signed a number of documents to enhance cooperation in such areas as agriculture, trade, investment and diplomacy.
China would like to plan and promote bilateral relations from a strategic and visionary view, Xi said, adding that the two sides should enhance political mutual trust and boost exchanges.
China supports the efforts made by Burkina Faso to fight terrorism and safeguard national and regional stability, Xi said.
Before their talks, Xi hosted a ceremony to welcome the West African nation's leader to a state visit to China and to the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Beijing Summit.
It is Burkina Faso's first time to attend such a big gathering between China and African nations, Xi said, adding that the summit has great significance for the development of China-Burkina Faso relations as well as China-Africa relations.
He spoke highly of the efforts made by the president of Burkina Faso, as a visionary and responsible statesman, to resume diplomatic relations with China.
The two nations should take the opportunities presented by resuming diplomatic relations to deepen political mutual trust, develop friendly ties and build a cooperative relationship featuring equality, mutual trust and win-win cooperation, Xi said.
Kabore said it was an independent and important decision to resume diplomatic relations with China, adding that the two countries should focus on future cooperation.
He also reaffirmed his commitment to the one-China principle and said he appreciated China's stance on upholding multilateralism while facing great global challenges.
China is a great model for the development of African countries, including Burkina Faso, Kabore said.
"China's rapid development, the country's promotion of the development of Africa, and its dedication to win-win cooperation are all drives for Burkina Faso to make the decision to return to the big family of China-Africa cooperation," he added.
