Beijing, July 2, 2025 (Lusa) - China welcomed the 50th anniversary of Cabo Verde’s independence on Wednesday, highlighting the strength of bilateral relations and stating its willingness to strengthen cooperation in areas such as infrastructure, education and health.
In a written response sent to the Lusa news agency, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs congratulated the archipelago on its anniversary, which falls on Saturday. It stated that the African country “has made significant progress in its national development,” wishing it to continue “steadily advancing on the path of revitalisation.”
The note stated that the two countries have marked their relations with “mutual political trust” and “fruitful” results in multiple areas, in a partnership that both governments consider strategic.
“China is willing to work with Cabo Verde to deepen pragmatic cooperation and implement the consensus reached at the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC,” the ministry said.
In recent decades, China has consolidated its presence in Cabo Verde through investments in public works, technical cooperation and the awarding of scholarships. Beijing has financed projects such as the National Stadium and the new headquarters of the National Assembly.
In previous statements to the weekly newspaper Expresso das Ilhas, former Cabo Verdean Foreign Minister Rui Figueiredo Soares described China as “a reliable and first-rate partner for the development of Cabo Verde”.
Cooperation extends to the area of education, with the Chinese government awarding more than a dozen scholarships annually. Since 2010, hundreds of Cabo Verdean students have attended higher education institutions in China, studying in areas such as engineering, medicine, tourism, and international relations.
“I arrived when I was 17 and immediately felt at home,” said Hélder Fernandes, a Cabo Verdean from the island of Santiago, who studied computer engineering on the tropical island of Hainan, in southern China, where he has since opened a restaurant.
On the diplomatic front, Cabo Verde has reiterated its support for the “One China” principle, recognising Beijing as the only legitimate government of the country, thereby prioritising Beijing over Taipei. In return, Cabo Verde has benefited from multiple debt forgiveness initiatives by China, including approximately €1.18 million in 2007 and a further €1.39 million in 2016. Additionally, Cabo Verde has received technical support in the areas of agriculture, fisheries, and health, including the deployment of medical teams and projects in fishing ports.
Through FOCAC, Cabo Verde has also sought to enhance access to external financing and technical support to achieve the objectives outlined in its Sustainable Development Strategic Plan.
JPI/ADB // ADB.
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