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 China |  Guinea-Bissau |
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People's Republic of China – Guinea-Bissau relations refers to thecurrent and historical relationship between thePeople's Republic of China (PRC) andGuinea-Bissau. Relations were established in March 1974, several months before Guinea-Bissau's September 1974 independence. From 1990 to 1998, Guinea-Bissau maintained diplomatic relations with theRepublic of China (Taiwan) rather than with the People's Republic. Relations were reestablished in 1998 and maintained since.
The PRC was one of theAfrican Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde's (PAIGC) "most enthusiastic supporters" during the twelve year (1963–1974)struggle for independence. On March 15, 1974, Guinea-Bissau established formal diplomatic relations.[1]: 347 When the PAIGC led the country to independence in 1974, it maintained close relations with theChinese Communist Party until the 1990 break in favor of Taiwan.[2] The first bilateral visit occurred in July 1975, when Guinea-Bissau's first foreign ministerVictor Saúde Maria visited China. Guinea-Bissauan PresidentsJoão Bernardo Vieira (1982) andKoumba Yala (2002) visited China as well.[3]
The PRC suspended relations after Guinea-Bissau's recognition of Taiwan in May 1990.[1]: 347 In April 1998, Guinea-Bissau and the PRC restored relations.[1]: 347
During theEbola outbreak in western Africa, Guinea-Bissau was one of the countries to which China'sPeople's Liberation Army provided medical personnel.[1]: 245
The two countries signed a number of bilateral economic agreements from 1974 to 1990; China built a stadium, hospital and other technological facilities. After the resumption of relations in 1998, China focused on enhancing agricultural production, housing, fisheries and power generation. Since the firstForum on China Africa Cooperation in 2000, Beijing has successfully delivered $113 million inOfficial Development Assistance to Guinea-Bissau.[4] Major officially financed development projects in Guinea-Bissau include:
As of 2002, Guinea-Bissau imported approximately US$4.5 million of Chinese goods.[3]
Guinea-Bissau and China both participate in the multi-lateral groupForum Macao, which China formed in 2003 to increase economic and commercial cooperation between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries.[1]: 62
In 2010, China announced a $1 billion fund designed to increase trade between the PRC and Portuguese speaking countries.[8]
In 2017, China announced that it was to invest $184 million to build a biomass power plant.[9]
Guinea Bissau follows theone China principle. It recognizes the People's Republic of China as the sole government of China andTaiwan as an integral part of China's territory, and supports all efforts by the PRC to "achievenational reunification". It also considersHong Kong,Xinjiang andTibet to be China's internal affairs.[10]
In June 2020, Guinea-Bissau was one of 53 countries backed theHong Kong national security law at theUnited Nations.[11]
