On February 20, 2019, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Mahamoud Ali Youssouf of Djibouti in Beijing.

Wang Yi said this year marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Djibouti. Over the past 40 years, no matter how the international situation has evolved, China has always treated and handled its relations with Djibouti in the principle that all countries, big or small, are equal, as well as helped Djibouti speed up its own development based on the values of friendship, justice and shared interests. The two sides understand and support each other on issues concerning each other's core interests and major concerns, and have become good friends who trust each other, good partners for win-win cooperation and good brothers that stand together through thick and thin. The all-round and strategic cooperation between China and Djibouti is a symbol of bilateral friendship, a manifestation of political mutual trust and a result of mutual benefit and win-win results. The two sides should seize the two major opportunities of jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative and implementing the outcomes of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), combine the needs of the Djiboutian side and advantages of the Chinese side, translate the important consensus reached by the two heads of state and the eight major initiatives of China-Africa cooperation into tangible results and promote the sustained development of China-Djibouti strategic partnership. The Chinese side is ready to further strengthen cooperation with the Djiboutian side in such aspects as escort, peacekeeping, counter-terrorism and counter-piracy, so as to make greater contributions to peace and security in Africa.

Mahamoud Ali Youssouf extended congratulations to the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, and said that the Djiboutian side admires China's development achievements. Djibouti and China have maintained sincere and friendly exchanges over the past 40 years and bilateral relations have been regarded as a model of Africa-China relations. Cherishing its solid friendship with China, the Djiboutian side will continue to develop long-term strategic partnership with China, and support the Chinese side's just position in the United Nations and on other international stages to safeguard the common interests of both sides. The Djiboutian side welcomes the eight major initiatives proposed by President Xi Jinping at the FOCAC Beijing Summit, supports the Chinese side in playing a more important role in promoting peace and security in Africa, and looks forward to further strengthening cooperation on jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative and on peace and security issues in Africa. The Djiboutian side thanks the Chinese side for its efforts to promote economic development and improve people's livelihood in Djibouti, hopes to learn from China's experience in state governance and administration and welcomes more Chinese enterprises to invest and do business in Djibouti to help Djibouti achieve sustainable development.