Gambian President Adama Barrow and Chinese President Xi Jinping have jointly announced the elevation of bilateral relations between their two countries to a strategic partnership at a meeting held in Beijing on Friday.

Barrow is in the Chinese capital to attend the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), which runs from Wednesday to Friday.

Xi said that in recent years, China-Gambia relations have achieved positive progress, with consolidated political mutual trust, and more practical cooperation, making the two countries good friends and partners on their path to development and revitalisation.

He said the two countries need to continue firmly supporting each other on matters concerning their respective core interests and major concerns, consolidate and maintain their friendship and mutual trust, and promote steady and long-term development of bilateral relations.

Xi said he is glad to see how China’s aid and cooperation projects have improved the lives of the Gambian people, stressing that the FOCAC summit this time introduced a series of new cooperation initiatives in areas such as industry, agriculture and infrastructure.

President Barrow said that Gambia and China enjoy a profound friendship. The Gambia International Conference Centre, built with Chinese aid, has become a new landmark in Banjul, and those cooperative projects have greatly improved the lives of the Gambian people.

Barrow added that the 10 partnership action plans unveiled by President Xi at the summit’s opening ceremony on Thursday have elevated Africa-China relations to new heights, for which Gambia expresses deep appreciation and gratitude.

Noting that Gambia has always been a reliable friend of China, Barrow expressed his hope to further enrich the substance of bilateral relations by deepening cooperation in economic, trade and cultural fields.