1. Political relations

The People's Republic of China established diplomatic relations with the Republic of Mali on October 25, 1960 and since then the relations between the two countries have witnessed a smooth development.

Chinese leaders and officials who visited the Republic of Mali are: Premier Zhou Enlai (January 1964), Liu Ningyi, Vice-chairman of the National People's Congress (March 1965), Chen Yi, Vice-premier and concurrently minister of foreign affairs (September 1965), Geng Biao, Vice-premier (October 1978), Huang Hua, Vice-premier and concurrently minister of foreign affairs (November 1981), Tian Jiyun, Vice-premier (December 1984), Wang Hanbin, Vice-chairman of the National People's Congress (September 1989, Qian Qichen, Member of the State Council and concurrently minister of foreign affairs (January 1992), Li Lanqing, Vice-premier (October 1995), Simayi Aimaidi, Member of the State Council (May 1999), Chen Jinhua, Vice-chairman of the National People's Political Consultative Conference (July 2000).

Leaders and officials of the Republic of Mali who visited China include: Modibo Keita, President (November 1964), Moussa Traore, President (June 1973, August 1981, June 1986, January 1989), Sidiki Diarra, Speaker of National Assembly (September 1986), Alpha Oumar Konare, President (December 1992 and September 1996), Ibrahim Boubacar Ketta, Prime minister (August 1994 and October 1999), Ali Nouhoum Diallo, Speaker of the National Assembly (July 1995), Moussa Balla Coulibaly, Chairman of Economic, Social and Cultural Council (March 2000).

2. Economy and trade relations and economic and technological cooperation

Since the establishment of the diplomatic relations China has provided Mali with such aid as textile mill, combined sugar refinery, leather processing factory, pharmacy, stadium, conference building and some other projects.

The Sino-Mali mutual benefit cooperation started in 1983 with undertaking projects and workforce cooperation as its main form. The projects undertaken consist mainly of the house-building, road and bridge construction, well-sinking and reconditioning farmlands and putting them in order.

China signed with Malian agreement of goods exchange and payment in February 1961. In October 1978, a new trade agreement was signed between the two countries. The major exports from China to Mali are: tea, mechanic and electric products and motorbikes, etc. while the major imports from Mali are: cotton and untreated cowhide. The two countries witnessed a trade value of US$ 23.35 million in 2002, of which the export from China came to US$ 21.62 million and the import accounted for US$ 1.73 million.

3. Exchange and cooperation in the fields of culture, education, medical work and military affairs

The governments of China and Mali signed an agreement for cultural cooperation in May 1963 and September 1981. China began to send teachers to Mali in 1965 and up to now there are 3 teachers teaching in Mali. In 2002, there were 79 students from Mali who were studying in China.

As started from December 1967, China and Mali signed once every two years the protocol for China to send medical team to Mali. From February 1968 to July 2002, China sent to Mali34 medical teams with a total of 581 person times of medical personnel. For the moment there are 31 medical workers working respectively in the hospitals of Kati, Sikasso and Markala.

Beginning from October 1966, minister of national defence, secretary of standing military commission of the Mali visited China one after the other. In May 2001, Soumeylou Boubeye Maiga, Minister of the armed forces and department of veteran soldiers of the Mali came to China for a visit. Zhang Dazhi, commander of the Chinese artillery (May 1971) Liu Kai, assistant to minister of national defence (March 1982), General Liu Jingson, commander of Lanzhou Military Zone (July 1995), Major General Chen Youqing, Political Commissar of Communications Department of the Headquarters of the General Staff (December 1995), General Zhou Kunren, Political Commissar of the General Logistics Department (July 2000) and General Chen Bingde, Commander of Jinan Military Zone (June 2002) paid visits to the Republic of Mali one after the other.

4. Important bilateral agreement and document

October 25, 1960 , Ke Hua, Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to Mali exchanged letters with Modibo Ketta, President of the Republic of Mali on the establishment of the diplomatic relations of the two countries, thereby completing officially the procedures for the setting-up of the diplomatic ties. On October 27, a joint communiqué for the establishment of diplomatic relations was proclaimed at the same time in Beijing and Bamako , capitals of the two countries.

(Chinese Foreign Ministry October 10, 2006)