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Relations first established bilateral relations on November 12, 1964.[1]: 347 In January 1966, Benin recognized the Republic of China (Taiwan) and withdrew relations from the People's Republic.[1]: 347 Benin and PR China reestablished relations in December 1972[1]: 372 under the regime of Mathieu Kérékou in Benin. Benin and PR China regularly exchanged high level visits, with Kérékou personally visiting Beijing in 1976, 1986 and 1998. Relations have focused on commercial development. Since 1972, Benin has supported PR China's One China Policy.[2]
Economic development
China has aided Benin in the creation of a number of public works projects, including a hospital in Lokossa and Cotonou Friendship Stadium. More recent Chinese development finance to Benin includes a 160 million yuan grant for construction of an overpass in Cotonou as well as the construction of an Economy and Trade Development Center.[3] Zhejiang Tianshi International Economic and Technological Cooperation Co completed construction of the center in 2009 at a total cost of 50 million yuan.[4]
In the 1990s and 2000s, Benin was a major consumer of Chinese goods; for example, in 2002, the total trade value of exchanges between the two countries was approximately US$437 million; Benin exported about 17 million US dollars' worth of goods to China, while Benin imported 420 million US dollars' worth of Chinese goods.[2]
In March 2018, President Patrice Talon approved China to develop a railway linking Cotonou with Niamey, with an estimated cost of US$4 billion.[5]
Cultural relations
Following the establishment of relations, China founded a "China Cultural Center" in Cotonou. Approximately 25 Beninese students study yearly in China.[6]
The China Cultural Center in Benin was opened to the public in 1988. In this center more than hundred Benin people study Chinese language very year. Conferences and exhibitions on Chinese culture are also held in this center.
^Austin Strange, Bradley C. Parks, Michael J. Tierney, Andreas Fuchs, Axel Dreher, and Vijaya Ramachandran. 2013. China's Development Finance to Africa: A Media-Based Approach to Data Collection. CGD Working Paper 323. Washington DC: Center for Global Development. http://aiddatachina.org/projects/7
