China Monday donated 10 million African francs (20,000 U.S. dollars) worth of office equipment to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cote d'Ivoire.

At a donation ceremony attended by Cote d'Ivoire Foreign Minister Yossouf Bakayoko, Chinese Ambassador Wei Wenhua said political ties between the two countries have grown steadily and bilateral cooperation in various fields has been fruitful since the establishment of diplomatic ties 25 years ago.

Wei said he hoped the donation would help improve part of the working conditions at the foreign ministry.

Since the signing of the Ouagadougou Peace Agreement in 2007, positive progress has been made in the peace process in Cote d'Ivoire, the ambassador said, adding that China will continue to support Cote d'Ivoire in its efforts to achieve lasting peace and economic revival at an early date in the country.

A civil war erupted in Cote d'Ivoire in September 2002, dividing the country into the rebel New Forces (FN)-held north and the government-controlled south.

Bakayoko expressed thanks for the donation. The Cote d'Ivoire government, he said, will continue to adhere to the one-China policy and make efforts to deepen bilateral political ties and expand trade and economic cooperation.

(Xinhua News Agency December 30, 2008)