ABIDJAN, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- Cote d'Ivoire wants to learn from China's development model, Foreign Minister Albert Toikeusse Mabri revealed on Wednesday.
The minister was speaking during a tour of Tonkpi area in Cote d'Ivoire's western region of Man, with China's ambassador to the country Tang Weibin.
"China is now the world leader in terms of hard work. It is this example of hard work and perseverance that should be emulated by the people of Tonkpi region which has enormous natural potentialities," Mabri said.
The president of Tonkpi regional council Gaston-Aime Woi Mela said "China began with nothing but has achieved spectacular development, and this is an example that is worth emulating."
"Our President Alassane Ouattara has reiterated in the past that we should emulate the Chinese model to become an emerging economy by 2020," Woi Mela said, adding that "it is an honor that our region is linked with China which is one of the major global economies."
China's ambassador to Cote d'Ivoire hailed the economic progress made by Cote d'Ivoire in recent years, and reaffirmed China's willingness to support the former's socio-economic development efforts.
Cote d'Ivoire and China established diplomatic relations in 1983.
