Burkina Faso - China relations
Burkina Faso is a landlocked country located in the south in Sahara Desert, sharing borders with six countries. It is expected to play an important role for keeping the peace and stability of the West Africa as well as promoting integration of regional economy. On the other hand, Burkina Faso is still one of the poorest countries in the world.
The year 1994 saw the re-establishment of the relations between ROC (Taiwan) and Burkina Faso. The most important cooperation was in the area of agriculture. The Taiwanese technical mission to Burkina Faso contributes to more than 34% of the total production of rice in Burkina Faso. Burkina Faso used to import rice from other countries but Burkina Faso has in the last few years been cutting down the quantity of rice importation and the government has a policy to attain the aim of achieving rice self-sufficiency. The other area of cooperation is in the medical field. National Blaise Compaore Hospital in Burkina Faso was the first computerized general hospital in West Africa and the hospital also features the latest medical equipment from Taiwan. It had become a regional hospital and attracted patients from neighboring countries to come to the hospital for medical treatment.
The Government of Burkina Faso announced the unilateral termination of diplomatic relations with Taiwan on 24 May 2018. In order to maintain national sovereignty and dignity, the government of Taiwan has also terminated diplomatic relations with Burkina Faso, effective immediately. Taiwan will cease all aid programs and begin the process of recalling diplomatic staff, medical and technical teams. Since enticing São Tomé and Príncipe to switch diplomatic relations in December 2016, China had worked to end Taiwan’s 24 year diplomatic relationship with Burkina Faso.
On the afternoon of May 26, 2018, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Foreign Minister Alpha Barry of Burkina Faso signed the Joint Communiqué on Resumption of Diplomatic Relations Between the People's Republic of China and Burkina Faso in Beijing, officially resuming diplomatic relations at the ambassadorial level between the two countries.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on 01 September 2018 met with Burkina Faso's President Roch Marc Christian Kabore ahead of the 2018 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. China will promote bilateral cooperation with a focus on agriculture, medical care and health, human resources, and energy that touch upon development and people's livelihoods, said Li, encouraging competitive Chinese enterprises to invest in Burkina Faso. Kabore called upon the two countries to enhance cooperation in various fields including personnel training, health, agriculture and energy and achieve mutual benefits.
On November 29, 2021 local time, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Burkina Faso's Foreign Minister Alpha Barry in Dakar when attending the Eighth Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. Wang Yi said that under the concerted efforts of China and Africa, the opening ceremony of this ministerial conference was held successfully. President Xi Jinping announced a series of new major initiatives of China-Africa cooperation, which will add new dimensions and inject new impetus to the China-Africa comprehensive strategic partnership.
Wang Yi said that China appreciates Burkina Faso's support for and accession to the Global Development Initiative put forth by President Xi Jinping. It will ramp up international development cooperation and accelerate the implementation of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. China is ready to enhance coordination and cooperation with Burkina Faso to increase African countries' capacities to tackle challenges and pursue independent development.
Barry said that President Xi Jinping's speech at the opening ceremony is of significant importance. The new Africa-China cooperation initiatives announced by President Xi Jinping vividly illustrate the Africa-China community with a shared future and will greatly expedite the development in Africa. Burkina Faso and China share highly similar ideas. Burkina Faso firmly supports China's position and claims. It is sincerely grateful for China's support for its economic development and COVID-19 response. Burkina Faso stands ready to deepen cooperation with China in various fields to benefit the two peoples.
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