Chen Haosu, president of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, said that bilateral relations have seen steady development since the two nations restored diplomatic ties in 1972.

The frequent exchange of high-level visits in recent years have increased the mutual understanding and enhanced friendship between the two nations and their people, Chen said.

As developing countries, he added, both China and Benin have always supported each other in international affairs.

Chen noted that China was grateful to Benin for its adherence to the "one-China" policy and for its support for China on human rights issues in United Nations meetings.

He said he was convinced that bilateral friendly cooperation will produce positive results.

The Beninian ambassador to China, Pierre Dossou Ago, said that Benin and China have been closely linked by common interests in the past 30 years since 1972.

The two countries have carried out effective cooperative efforts in the fields of economics, culture, education and health care, the ambassador noted.

Moreover, he thanked China for its political support and financial assistance.

The Beninian ambassador also said he hopes that cooperation between the two countries will be increasingly friendly and still more fruitful.

(Xinhua News Agency December 31, 2002)