ON October 10, 2013, the Chinese ambassador to Mali hosted a party at the embassy for the media workers who would soon head for China for a training program.

The reception hall was fronted by a giant group photo of President Modibo Keita with China’s late leader Mao Zedong, reminding us of the two countries’ cooperation in the late 60s and early 70s. In those days, Malian students studied Quotations from Chairman Mao and eagerly read the publications of New China. The two great leaders died within one year of one another, in 1977 and 1976, leaving behind a common ideal: to build their countries into powerful economies.

China was a young republic in 1960, still gaunt and weary after years of liberation war. Nonetheless, China resolutely befriended Mali, another new country born out of decades of colonial occupation and exploitation. Many enterprises in Mali were established with China’s fraternal aid, including Comatex S.A., Mali’s state-owned textile company, SONTAM, the national tobacco corporation and the Dougabougou Sugar Mill, the Mali Tannery and Farako Tea Factory.

The friendship established by Chairman Mao and President Keita continues to this day. China’s 35-year reform and opening-up has inspired Mali in its own reforms. The countries are now exploring new forms of cooperation, one of them being joint management and operation of major enterprises.

Today, the two countries are tightening their ties in varied sectors. Many Chinese enterprises and institutions have set up operations in Mali, where locals are becoming familiar with the Chinese lifestyle. Likewise, Chinese visas are something of a craze in Bamoko, capital and largest city of Mali, and China has become home to many Malian students, businessmen, artists and sportsmen. Another example of the growing amity between China and Mali is Guangzhou, where a vast and growing community of Malian immigrants has developed.

China offers training programs to Malian people in many fields, and Malian officials participate regularly. These programs represent a gesture of friendship towards Mali as well as grounding for further cooperation. If the people of Mali develop a thorough understanding of China’s history, present situation and challenges, they will grasp a full, candid picture of the Asian country, and hence be able to contribute to realizing China’s dream of national rejuvenation.

ASSANA DIAWARA is head of the Malian media workers’ delegation attending the 2013 training program in China.