China is willing to make concerted efforts with Benin to deepen their mutually-beneficial cooperation in various fields, visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said on Jan.1,2007.

Li made the remarks at a meeting with Beninese President Thomas Boni Yayi, who the Chinese top diplomat said had attached great importance to the relations between Benin and China since he took office.

Both sides have witnessed closer high-level exchanges and continuous achievements in such field as trade and economy, said the Chinese minister, who arrived in Cotonou, the largest city in Benin, on Sunday on an official visit to Benin.

He also extended appreciation to the Beninese government's unswerving adherence to the one-China policy.

Li said one important mission of his visit was to boost the implementation of significant consensus reached by the two countries' leaders, as well as measures announced by Chinese President Hu Jintao at the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), which were aimed at supporting Africa's development.

The Chinese government, which values its traditional friendship with Benin, is willing to continuously bring their bilateral relations to new heights, Li added.

For his part, Yayi said Benin and China, which have enjoyed a substantial traditional friendship, have carried out fruitful cooperation in trade and economy.

The Beninese people will remember for ever China's support for the west African nation's economic and social development, said the president, adding that Benin supports China's great undertaking of reunification.

Yayi said the Beijing Summit of FOCAC, as a great event between China and Africa, will go down in the history of bilateral relations.

He hoped that the achievements acquired at the summit will be fulfilled as soon as possible and bring benefit to the peoples of the two countries.

During his stay in Cotonou, he held talks with his Beninese counterpart Mariam Aladji Boni Diallo and signed an agreement on economic and technical cooperation.

The Chinese minister also attended a ceremony launching construction of a Chinese trade and economic development center.