A reception was held in Beijing on Wednesday to celebrate the 35th anniversary of establishment of the China-Togo diplomatic relations.

The two countries forged diplomatic ties on September 19, 1972. Trade volume between the two sides reached US$570 million in 2005.

Addressing the occasion, Feng Zuoku, vice president of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), said the China-Togo relations have developed smoothly in the past years despite changes of international situation.

Since the establishment of bilateral diplomatic ties 35 years ago, the two countries have maintained close people-to-people exchanges, Feng said.

The CPAFFC and China-Africa Friendship Association will continue to make unremitting efforts to promote the friendly exchanges between the two peoples, Feng said.

Echoing Feng's remarks, Togo ambassador to China Nolana Ta-ama said that Togo-China's ties has been built on the basis of "transparent, open and sincere cooperation", which features wide consensus reached by both leaders on building international trust.

Ta-Ama thanked the Chinese government for providing assistance to Togo in fields of agriculture, higher education, health care and sports.

Ta-Ama also reiterated that the Togolese government will persistently adhere to the one-China policy, which is appreciated by the Chinese side.

(Xinhua News Agency September 19, 2007)