On the afternoon of October 13, 2026, President Xi Jinping met with President of the Council of Togo Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, who is on an official visit to China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. The two leaders announced the elevation of bilateral relations to a China-Togo community with a shared future in the new era. 

President Xi Jinping noted that the traditional friendship between China and Togo, forged by older generation of leaders, is deep-rooted and time-honored. In solidarity, the two sides have, over the past decades, continuously strengthened cooperation and enhanced mutual understanding and friendship between the peoples, writing a vibrant chapter in building the all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era. Friendship and cooperation between China and Togo are underpinned by closely aligned visions and enjoy broad prospects for development. The two sides should further strengthen exchanges at various levels between the two parties and two countries, deepen experience sharing on state governance, and firmly support each other on issues concerning their respective core interests and major concerns. The zero-tariff policy is a special arrangement adopted by China to support Africa’s independent development and energize China-Africa cooperation through institutional opening-up. China welcomes Togo in making good use of this policy and the “green lanes” for African exports, among other measures, to give fuller play to its role as a regional trade and logistics hub and bring more specialty products of Togo and the wider region into the Chinese market. China appreciates Togo’s initiative to expand the cross-border use of RMB, and stands ready to step up new energy, digital and intelligent cooperation with Togo with a view to boosting Togo’s industrialization. Sharing similar positions on international and regional issues, China and Togo should enhance multilateral coordination, make concerted efforts to reform and improve global governance, and promote regional peace and security. 

President Xi Jinping put forward four principles on the constructive participation of relevant parties in the resolution of African hotspot issues. First, uphold Africa’s leadership. African people are the true masters of the continent and should therefore play a central role in regional affairs. Second, safeguard equity and justice. Parties should observe the purposes and principles of the U.N. Charter and respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries concerned. Third, cease hostilities and build peace. War and unilateral sanctions are never real solutions to disputes between states. Countries should respect each other, engage in extensive consultation, seek common ground despite differences, and practice mutual understanding and accommodation. Fourth, address both symptoms and root causes. Addressing immediate security concerns should go hand in hand with long-term development planning. 

President Faure Gnassingbé said that during this visit, he has witnessed firsthand that under the visionary leadership of President Xi Jinping, Chinese modernization has made remarkable progress, and the fine Chinese tradition and culture have been kept alive and are thriving. He has also gained deeper insights into China’s governance philosophy and the secret to its success. Togo and China enjoy a long-standing and ever-stronger friendship, and will celebrate the 55th anniversary of bilateral ties next year. Togo will enhance mutual trust with China, increase dialogue and communication, strengthen long-term mutually beneficial cooperation, and jointly build a Togo-China community with a shared future in the new era to benefit the two peoples. Togo stands ready to learn from China’s experience in state governance, welcomes more Chinese enterprises to invest and operate in Togo, and will expand cooperation with China in areas such as trade, infrastructure, and science and technology. Togo completely agrees with the important principles President Xi Jinping set forth for the constructive participation of relevant parties in the resolution of African hotspot issues, and highly commends China’s important role in maintaining world peace and stability and in promoting joint responses to global challenges. Togo is ready to step up multilateral cooperation with China to jointly defend multilateralism and safeguard the interests of developing countries. 

Wang Yi was present at the meeting.