On Jan 26, 2019, in the run-up to the Chinese New Year, the Centre International De Conferences De Bamako (CICB) in Mali, which China helped build and renovate, was decorated with lanterns and streamers.

My suggestion to hold the first China-Mali Spring Festival Evening Gala at the newly renovated center had received strong support from Mali's Ministry of Culture, and that evening nearly 1,000 Chinese and foreign guests joined Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and his wife, president of the National Assembly, at the event.

The CICB is a project China helped build beside the Niger River over 20 years ago. Two years of China-aided renovation has given the center a completely new look with facilities that conform to the latest standards. It is easily the most advanced international conference center of its kind in Africa. In my speech at the gala evening, I said the CICB building resembles a piano from one angle and a sail from another.

It thus plays the wonderful tune of China-Mali cooperation while the sails carry bilateral ties to a brighter future. It made sense to hold the festival at the newly renovated center, in light of the deepening bilateral cooperation and closer people-to-people exchanges.

In his speech, President Keita addressed the young among the audience, telling them to learn from the earlier generation's farsightedness and carry forward bilateral ties with their intelligence and wisdom.

For the gala, the Chinese embassy had arranged a grand opening dance with Chinese characteristics, presented by nearly 50 Chinese people living in the country. The Chinese actors made a stunning appearance on stage, dressed in ethnic costumes.

All the Chinese actors came from China-funded enterprises, medical teams at Mali Hospital, the Confucius Institute and military personnel dispatched from China. Professional performers from Mali and amateur performers from China, too, shared the stage, taking China-Mali friendship to another level.

Mali's Culture Minister N'Diaye Ramatoulaye Diallo was amazed to learn that the Chinese people among the performers lived and worked in Bamako. She paid them a warm tribute. Representatives of the Chinese peacekeeping force in Mali, who are fighting terrorism on the frontline thousands of miles away from home, presented a dance performance named The Sword of Peace. After they finished, President Keita, who greatly liked their performance, expressed his gratitude to the peacekeepers by posing with them. The Malian people among the audience, too, were deeply impressed.

Located in western Africa, Mali boasts abundant natural resources. And its people are very favorably disposed toward China and its people. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties in October 1960, the Chinese government has attached great significance to its ties with Mali, sparing no effort to assist the Mali government improve infrastructure and people's well-being.

The China-Mali Friendship Bridge on the Niger River and the CICB on the riverside are Bamako's landmarks besides being symbols of China's quality, speed and the craftsmanship spirit of Chinese businesses.

The Mali Hospital, built with Chinese aid and complete with medical workers that China has been dispatching for over 50 years, showcases China's long-term responsibility to assist in the country's development.

China-Mali friendship has stood the tests of time and is a fine example of South-South cooperation. Against the backdrop of the turbulent international situation and rising unstable factors, Mali has, like a good brother, unswervingly supported China on its core interests.

In July, Mali signed a memorandum of understanding with China on cooperation within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, once again showcasing the initiative's great global influence.

On the streets of Bamako, children and passersby have often amiably called out "Hello China!" to me in Chinese. Such amity holds the key to sound relations. Only when peoples' hearts are close to each other can people-to-people exchanges be enhanced and bilateral cooperation bolstered for more fruitful results in all areas.

Today, China-Mali cooperation has extended to the Belt and Road Initiative. The ancient Silk Road, which spanned thousands of miles and lasted thousands of years, has cultivated the Silk Road spirit, marked by peace and cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, mutual learning and mutual benefit.

I believe China and Mali will jointly embrace the Silk Road spirit, uphold the principle of "extensive consultation, joint development and shared benefits", and make unremitting efforts to create a community with a shared future for the two countries.

I'd like to extend my best wishes to China-Mali friendship with the following poem:

A single thread brings closer the African and Asian continents,

Closer cooperation brings both friendship and shared benefits,

People-to-people exchanges are like water that connects us,

The Belt and Road that flows at great speed moistens our hearts.

The author is China's ambassador to Mali.

The author contributed this article to China Watch exclusively. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of China Watch.