A. Bilateral Political Relations

The People's Republic of Chinaand the Republicof Cote D'Ivoireestablished the diplomatic relations on March 2, 1983. The relationship of the two countries has witnessed a favorable development since the establishment of the diplomatic relations.

Chinese leaders and officials who visited the Cote D'Ivoire mainly include: Li Peng, Vice-premier (October 1986), Wu Xueqian, Member of the State Council and concurrently Minister of Foreign Affairs (June 1987), Wang Hanbin, Vice-chairman of the NPC (September 1989), Qian Qichen, Member of the State Council and concurrently Minister of Foreign Affairs (January 1992), Yang Shangkun, President of the PRC (July 1992), Li Lanqing, Vice-premier (November 1995), Song Jian, Member of the State Council and concurrently Director-general of the State Science and Technology Commission (May 1997), Hu Jintao, Vice-president of the PRC (January 1999), Chi Haotian, Member of the State Council and Minister of National Defence (September 2001), Wei Jianxing, Standing member of the CPC central committee and secretary of the secretariat (June 2002) and so on.

Leaders and Officials who visited China from the Cote D'Ivoire mainly include: DANIEL KABLAN DUNCAN, Prime minister (July 1996 and September 1999), HENRI KONAN BEDIE, President of the Cote D'Ivoire (May 1997), EMILE BROU, Speaker of the National Assembly (May 1999), LAURENT GBAGBO, President of the Cote D'Ivoire (April, 2002), etc.

B. Bilateral economy and trade relations and economic and technological cooperation

Since the establishment of the diplomatic relations Chinahas provided the Cote D'Ivoirewith such aids as a theater and the renovation and repair of GUIGUIDOU farmland water-conservancy project and so on.

Since 1997, the two sides run a joint venture by setting up in Cote D'Ivoirethe Hua-Ke Vehicles Co. Ltd., the Agro-machinery Assembling Co. Ltd and the pharmacy while in China, the Qingke Chocolate Food Co. Ltd. was set up. And the two sides completed in cooperation the project for petroleum prospecting in Cote D'Ivoire.undefined

The workforce undertaking cooperation of the two sides was started in 1986. For the moment, China Roadand Bridge Construction Corporation and China Overseas Engineering Corporation are now working in Cote D'Ivoire.

The governments of the two countries signed trade agreement in 1984 and in 1996 China Investment and DevelopmentCenterfor Trade Promotion entered into operation in December 1997 in Abidjan. The total trade value between Chinaand Cote D'Ivoirein 2002 came to US$ 233.87 million, of which the Chinese export took up US$ 219.74 million with the import being at 14.13 million in the US dollars.

C. Bilateral exchanges and cooperation in the fields of culture and education and in military matters as well.

In 1992, Chinaand Cote D'Ivoiresigned the agreement for cultural cooperation.

Chinabegan to accept students from Cote D'Ivoireto study in Chinain 1985 and in 2002 there were 4 students from Cote D'Ivoirestudying here. Chinaand Cote D'Ivoiresigned the protocol for higher education cooperation for three respective times in 1994, 1998 and 2002. Invested by Chinain aid to Cote D'Ivoire, the Agro-food processing and Fresh-keeping Center of the Poly-technical Institute at YAMOUSSOUKROBOIGNY was put up in May 1999.

The visits by the Chinese military side to Cote D'Ivoire mainly include: General Liu Jingsong, Commander of Lanzhou Military Zone (July 1995), Lieutenant General Liang Guanglie, Commander of Shenyang Military Zone (November 1998), Major General Jiang Pumin, Director of Foreign Training Department of the University of National Defence (April 2001) and General Chi Haotian, Vice-chairman of Central Military Commission, Member of the State Council and Minister of National Defence (September 2001).

The visits by the military side from Cote D'Ivoireto Chinamainly include: KOFFI, Minister of National Defence (May 1994), Captain DIOMANDE, Commander of the Navy (July 1996) and LIDA, Minister of National Defence, National Protection and State Affairs (February 2002).

D. Important bilateral agreement and document