Bamako, Mali - February 20, 2025 Mali held a conference in capital city of Bamako on Thursday in pursuit of increased cooperation with China. Themed under "Sino-Malian Relations, A Long-standing Friendship That Continues," the meeting was held in Bamako's cultural landmark Memorial Modibo Keita. Among the attendees were Chinese Ambassador to Mali Chen Zhihong, the president of China's Friends Clubs Aliou Cissoko, and Professor Yoro Diallo, recipient of 2024 Chinese Government Friendship Award. In September, 2024, Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Malian President Assimi Goita in Beijing on the sidelines of the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). During their meeting, the two leaders jointly announced the elevation of bilateral relations to a strategic partnership. Chen and Cissoko both agreed that the meeting aims to explore more cooperation opportunities between the two countries following the 2024 FOCAC. "Given the level of relations between China and Mali, it is important that we review this cooperation to look to the future. The China-Africa Forum has just been held in Beijing with many changes. Our concern today is what should Mali do to benefit more from this cooperation with China? It is in this context that we have organized this conference to bring further information, to create a framework for Mali and China to work hand in hand," said Cissoko. "At the FOCAC summit, Chinese President Xi Jinping met Mali's President Assimi Goita. The two leaders raised the level of cooperation between our two countries to a strategic level. This intensification of cooperative relations between our two countries is reflected in giant projects such as the Goulamina mine, which has already started production. This is the kind of pragmatic cooperation between our two countries. Other projects will follow," Ambassador Zhihong said. China and Mali established diplomatic relations in 1960. The video shows: 1. Various of Malian, Chinese guests at conference on Chinese-Malian relations 2. Various of attendees listening 3. SOUNDBITE (French, dubbed in English) Aliou Cissoko, president, China's Friends Clubs (ending with shots 4-5): "Given the level of relations between China and Mali, it is important that we review this cooperation to look to the future. The China-Africa Forum has just been held in Beijing with many changes. Our concern today is what should Mali do to benefit more from this cooperation with China? It is in this context that we have organized this conference to bring further information, to create a framework for Mali and China to work hand in hand." 4. Poster for conference on Sino-Malian relations 5. Various of attendees 6. SOUNDBITE (French, dubbed in English) Chen Zhihong, Chinese Ambassador to Mali (starting with shot 5/partially overlaid with shots 7-8): "At the FOCAC summit, Chinese President Xi Jinping met Mali's President Assimi Goita. The two leaders raised the level of cooperation between our two countries to a strategic level. This intensification of cooperative relations between our two countries is reflected in giant projects such as the Goulamina mine, which has already started production. This is the kind of pragmatic cooperation between our two countries. Other projects will follow." ++SHOTS OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE++ 7. Various of people talking 8. Certificate of Chinese Government Friendship Award ++SHOTS OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE++ 9. Group photo [Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]