Meng Fanli, governor of Guangdong province, met with Faure Gnassingbé, president of Togo's Council of Ministers, in Shenzhen on Oct 16 to discuss cooperation in trade, investment and emerging industries. Wang Min, China's ambassador to Togo, and Shenzhen Mayor Li Yun attended the meeting.

Meng, also a deputy secretary of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee, welcomed Gnassingbé and outlined Guangdong's development. He said China and Togo have long enjoyed friendly relations, noting that the two countries elevated their ties to a community with a shared future for the new era during a meeting between President Xi Jinping and Gnassingbé in Beijing on Oct 13.

Meng said Guangdong, a pioneer of China's reform and opening-up efforts, has maintained close ties with Togo and achieved strong practical results. The province will work with Togo to implement the leaders' consensus and expand trade and investment. The two sides will explore cooperation in agriculture, industry, infrastructure and artificial intelligence, and strengthen exchanges in education, culture, science and technology, tourism and sister-city partnerships.

Gnassingbé thanked Guangdong for its hospitality, speaking highly of its development, and said that the visit had deepened his understanding of Chinese modernization. He expressed hope that the visit will create opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation and advance the building of a China-Togo community with a shared future for the new era.