Cote d'Ivoire president says Africa needs Chinese 'support' to develop

ABIDJAN, March 29 (Xinhua) -- Cote d'Ivoire's President Alassane Ouattara says African states are banking on Chinese "support" to achieve their development ambition.

Ouattara made the remarks in Durban, South Africa, after meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday.

Ouattara, alongside 10 other African presidents, met with the Chinese leader for a breakfast meeting on the sidelines of the summit of the BRICS countries that include Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

Ouattara said that during the meeting, the African leaders appealed for "more support from a stronger country like China," so that they can achieve their ambitions.

He added that the discussions were "fruitful" not only on economic and political issues, but also on diplomatic and cultural issues.

According to a statement from the Cote d'Ivoire Presidency, Ouattara "held talks with the Chinese leader who seemed to understand the challenges of African countries."

"This is why the relations between China and Africa, and especially with Cote d'Ivoire, will grow stronger," Ouattara said.

One of the objectives of the fifth BRICS summit was to establish a partnership between the organization of the emerging economies and the African continent, which is beneficial to both parties.

During the summit, the leaders decided to create a development bank.

Outtara said Cote d'Ivoire, which hopes to become an emerging economy by 2020, had to be present at the forum to "benefit from the experience" of the BRICS countries.