China will continue to support Togo in safeguarding its sovereignty, security, and development interests, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi stated, as cited by Chinese media on Tuesday.
Wang made the remark during his visit to the country as part of his tour to four African countries, namely Egypt, Tunisia, Togo, and Cote d'Ivoire, that began on January 13.
In response, Togolese Foreign Minister Robert Dussey expressed his country's adherence to the one-China principle and said that Taiwan is an integral part of Chinese territory, the Chinese media reported.
Wang reportedly added that genuine friends support each other in times of need, and noted that both countries will collaboratively preserve the principle of non-interference in internal affairs as a fundamental standard governing international relations.
Wang's tour will last until January 18. His trips to Africa follow a tradition established in 1991, when China's foreign ministers started choosing Africa as the destination for their first overseas trip of the year. The custom reflects China's deep diplomatic ties and geopolitical interests in the continent. The Chinese Foreign Ministry says that such a long tradition demonstrates Beijing's commitment to strengthening cooperation with the continent.
Wang will then head to Latin America, where he plans to visit Brazil and Jamaica from January 18 to 22.