The President of Cape Verde, Jorge Carlos Fonseca, said the development of ties between the African nation and China has resulted in a co-operation that serves as “a model” for bilateral relations. 

Mr Fonseca issued the message, addressed to China’s President Xi Jinping, this week, as Cape Verde and China celebrate 40 years of bilateral ties.

“The co-operation with China has a decisive impact in our programme aimed at [developing] economic infrastructures and social equipment, therefore it is worthy of public acknowledgment,” the Cape Verdean Head of State said in the message, made public by the Cape Verdean Presidency.

In the letter to his Chinese counterpart, Mr Fonseca recalled the support provided by China to Cape Verde in fields including: technical and material support to the nation’s Armed Forces; training of human resources; support for the country’s national health system via provision of additional medical staff; and the creation of infrastructure to support the political, economic, sports, public sanitation and cultural sectors.

“I ask Your Excellency to convey to the Chinese people our expression of great friendship, gratitude and acknowledgment for all we were able to achieve together in these 40 years of co-operation and engagement,” Mr Fonseca stated, adding he hoped bilateral relations would continue to be fruitful.