Trade between Cote d'Ivoire and China reaches record level in 2013

Commercial exchanges between Cote d'Ivoire and China reached record level of 1.110 billion U.S. dollars in 2013, Chinese ambassador to Cote d'Ivoire Zhang Guoqing said on Wednesday.

"According to statistics from our customs department, from January to November 2013, the total volume of commercial exchange reached the record levels of 1.110 billion dollars," Zhang said in an interview just a day before the Chinese New Year.

"This is a result that has never been achieved in the history of trading between the two countries," he said.

"My country's imports from Cote d'Ivoire reached 214 million dollars, representing a growth of 78 percent," the ambassador said.

Zhang recalled the several visits of high level Chinese officials as well as delegations of economic investors to Abidjan, which identified numerous investment opportunities in the country.

He cited projects accomplished through funding from the Chinese government including supply of ambulance equipment, computers, rehabilitation of the cultural center as well as the rehabilitation of the foreign affairs ministry offices and construction of an anti-malaria center in Abidjan.

He further cited China's support for construction of Soubre hydroelectric dam in southwest Abidjan, water supply project in Abidjan, construction of Abidjan-Bassam road, construction of housing units and the laying of the fibre optic cable to government offices.

Zhang equally mentioned the continued training of Cote d'Ivoire's civil servants in China as well as award of scholarships to Cote d'Ivoire students to study in China.

"This year, we are convinced there will be more success in the cooperation between our two countries," the Chinese ambassador concluded.

In March 2013, Cote d'Ivoire and China celebrated 30 years since the establishment of their diplomatic relations.