President Kaïs Saied reaffirmed Tunisia’s desire to establish promising partnerships and new cooperation programmes with China in various fields such as health, agriculture, sports, infrastructure and renewable energies, during a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the Carthage Palace on Monday.
The head of state also noted the excellence of the cooperation and partnership relations between Tunisia and China and the common will of the leaders of the two countries to elevate them to the highest level to serve the higher interests of the two friendly peoples.
In this context, he referred to the many diverse and important cooperation projects implemented in Tunisia with the support of China, the most recent of which is the International Diplomatic Academy, according to a statement issued by the Presidency of the Republic.
On the other hand, he recalled the strength of the historical ties of friendship between Tunisia and China, as the two countries are celebrating the 60th anniversary of the est
ablishment of diplomatic relations between them, and Tunisia was among the countries that voted in favour of the 1971 UN resolution recognising the Chinese People’s Government as the sole representative of the Chinese people.
He also recalled the results of the meeting he had with the Chinese President on the occasion of the China-Arab States Summit held in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in December 2022.
During this meeting, the head of state stressed Tunisia’s firm position in support of the right of the Palestinian people to establish their independent state on all the land of Palestine with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.
Saied and Wang Yi also discussed a number of international issues of common interest.
For his part, the Chinese Foreign Minister said in a statement released by the Presidency after the meeting that his country “is considered a strategic partner of Tunisia”.
He expressed China’s satisfaction with the level of relations between the two countries, which are celebrating the sixtiet
h anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations (January 10, 1964).
He also said that China “strongly supports President Kais Saied as the representative and leader of the Tunisian people on the path of progress and prosperity” and supports his efforts to “carry out internal reforms and promote national consciousness”.
He added: “We are friends of Tunisia and will firmly support the Tunisian state in safeguarding its sovereignty, independence and programmes, and express our gratitude to it for its support for China’s key issues, first and foremost the Taiwan issue.”
Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse