Togo's Council of Ministers President Faure Gnassingbé to visit China Oct 9-16
In short
China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson announced on October 8 that Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, President of the Council of Ministers of Togo, will make an official visit to China from October 9 to 16 at the invitation of Premier Li Qiang. Spokesperson Mao Ning said it is his seventh official visit to China since taking office.
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A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson announced on October 8 that Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, President of the Council of Ministers of Togo, will pay an official visit to China from October 9 to 16 at the invitation of Premier Li Qiang, according to CLS and Jiemian. Yicai and China News Service also reported the planned visit. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Asked at the ministry's regular press conference about the arrangements and China's expectations, spokesperson Mao Ning called Faure an old friend of China and said this is his seventh official visit to China since taking office, which reflects the importance Togo attaches to bilateral ties, CLS reported. Mao said China and Togo are comprehensive strategic partners, that in the 54 years since diplomatic relations were established the two sides have firmly supported each other on issues of core interests and major concerns, and that cooperation in various fields has produced results. Mao expressed confidence that the visit would take relations to a new level and contribute to building an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era. [ 5 ]
Why it matters
The Foreign Ministry described China and Togo as comprehensive strategic partners and said it expects the visit to take relations to a new level. Mao Ning also linked the visit to building an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era.
Key facts
- Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, President of the Council of Ministers of Togo, will make an official visit to China from October 9 to 16. [ 1 , 3 ]
- The visit is at the invitation of Chinese Premier Li Qiang. [ 1 , 3 ]
- The visit was announced by a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson on October 8. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said this is Faure's seventh official visit to China since he took office. [ 5 ]
- Mao Ning said China and Togo are comprehensive strategic partners and that the two countries established diplomatic relations 54 years ago. [ 5 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- The programme of the visit, including which cities Faure will visit and whether any agreements will be signed. Mao Ning was asked about the arrangements, but the reported reply gives no itinerary or planned agreements.