Chinese President Xi Jinping and Ghanaian President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Thursday jointly announced the elevation of China-Ghana ties to a strategic partnership.
The two presidents made the announcement at their meeting in Beijing after the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).
No matter how the international situation has evolved over the 64 years since China and Ghana established diplomatic relations, the friendship between the two countries has stood the test of time and grown from strength to strength, Xi said, noting China stands ready to work with Ghana to effectively carry forward the in-depth friendship forged by older-generation leaders of the two countries, keep enhancing political mutual trust, advance exchanges and cooperation in various fields, and be good friends to each other featuring mutual trust, good partners of common development and good brothers of close cooperation.
Xi said China is willing to build greater synergy between the development strategies of the two countries, continue to do what it can to help Ghana develop economy and improve the people's well-being, and expand cooperation in fields including agriculture, fishery, energy, mineral resources and infrastructure. Xi said he hopes that Ghana will continue providing relevant support and convenience for Chinese companies and citizens in Ghana.
Xi said China supports Ghana in carrying out work as a member of the U.N. Human Rights Council for the term from 2024 to 2026, and is willing to strengthen strategic coordination with Ghana in international and regional affairs.
Xi said the 2024 FOCAC Summit has summed up historical experience in maintaining China-Africa friendship, made clear the direction and ways for China and Africa to jointly advance modernization, and defined the direction for strides of the Global South, noting China is ready to make joint efforts with Ghana to effectively implement outcomes of the summit.
For his part, Akufo-Addo said China has always been Ghana's most trustworthy friend and partner since the establishment of diplomatic relations.
Akufo-Addo said his country will stay committed to the one-China policy and supports China on issues including those related to human rights. Akufo-Addo expressed appreciation for China's long-standing support to Ghana in various aspects, noting Chinese enterprises' investment and cooperation have strongly promoted the economic and social development in Ghana.
Ghana hopes for further expanding and deepening of cooperation with China in such fields as electricity, mineral resources and new energy, said Akufo-Addo, noting his country is willing to provide convenience for Chinese enterprises in the country.
He said Ghana stands ready to work with China to actively implement the 10 partnership actions for Africa and China to jointly advance modernization announced by President Xi at the opening ceremony of the summit.
Themed "Joining Hands to Advance Modernization and Build a High-Level China-Africa Community with a Shared Future," the three-day FOCAC summit opened in Beijing on Wednesday, with a view to strengthening friendship and outlining future cooperation between the two sides.