Mali signs substantial military agreement with Chinese firm
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President Goita is visiting China for the FOCAC summit and has overseen the signing of an important arms agreement.
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Interim President of the Republic of Mali, Colonel Assimi Goita, arrives at Beijing Capital International Airport, ahead of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), in Beijing China, on September 1, 2024. (AP)
Mali has signed a contract with a Chinese firm for military equipment, training, and technology transfer.
The agreement was signed on Monday by Mali’s Defense Minister Sadio Camara and the head of the Chinese firm Norinco in Beijing.
Interim President and the Commander-In-Chief of the Malian Armed Forces, Colonel Assimi Goita, was present during the signing ceremony. Goita also inspected some of the Chinese corporation's equipment rooms, which housed drones and armored vehicles.
"Norinco delivered equipment to us without waiting for the payment of money. It was at the end of the embargo that we were able to settle this contract. We will not forget this act," Goita was quoted as saying.
Following the coup led by a military junta in Mali in 2021, Western nations were quick to punish the nation for its struggle for independence. Western countries have imposed multiple sanctions on Mali after failing to protect Western African countries from extremists and insurgencies, which Mali continues to fight to this day.
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China, Mali to elevate relations to 'strategic partnership'
Goita arrived alongside a high-level delegation in China on Sunday to participate in the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, which will kick off this Wednesday.
On Monday, President Xi Jinping met with his Malian counterpart, where they announced the elevation of the countries' bilateral relations to a "strategic partnership".
Xi reaffirmed China's support for Mali’s economic development and encouraged Chinese investments in various sectors. Colonel Goita expressed gratitude for China's assistance and reiterated Mali’s commitment to the one-China principle while seeking to deepen cooperation across multiple fields.
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