Togo : President Faure Gnassingbé and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi assess 50 years of Sino-Togolese cooperation

In Togo, the Head of State, President Faure Gnassingbé, held fruitful talks with the Chinese Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, during his two-day visit to Lomé on January 17, 2024. This meeting provided an opportunity for the two leaders to review the bilateral cooperation between Togo and China, covering various strategic sectors.

Discussions focused on various areas of cooperation, including economics, infrastructure, health, agriculture, education, and culture. China plays a significant role in Togo’s development, and this visit allowed an assessment of progress in these key areas.

In the economic sphere, China remains one of Togo’s main partners. Trade between the two countries reached $2.3 billion in the first seven months of 2023, showing a notable increase of 14% compared to the previous year. Chinese contributions to Togolese infrastructure are also noteworthy. Projects such as the new National Assembly headquarters, the Kégué Stadium in Lomé, the Congress Palace in Kara, and the Lomé bypass have benefited from China’s financial and technical support.

During the meeting, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi extended a personal invitation from Xi Jinping to Faure Gnassingbé to participate in the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC 2024) scheduled for September. This event will bring together several African leaders, further strengthening ties between China and Africa.

The Sino-Togolese cooperation, which has surpassed 50 years, remains a model of successful partnership, with China making significant contributions to Togo’s development and prosperity through well-supported financial and technical initiatives.

Read also: Togo : Chinese Foreign Minister’s visit to Lomé consolidates Sino-Togolese cooperation

Akolatsey Justine