SHANGHAI, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- The organizing of the China International Import Expo (CIIE) personifies President Xi Jinping's vision and his faith in promoting global trade, said Souleymane Diarrassouba, commerce minister of Cote d'Ivoire.
Xi said in a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the CIIE on Monday that all countries should oppose protectionism and unilateralism in a clear-cut stand.
Diarrassouba said that the Chinese president's remarks show that China honors its international commitments and wants all countries to have peaceful trade relations.
It is an opportunity for the West African country to diversify its markets, said the minister, who is leading his country's delegation at the very first CIIE held in China's coastal city of Shanghai on Nov. 5-10.
An exporter of cocoa, coffee and cashew, Cote d'Ivoire is planning to sell more to China. The country's traditional markets in Asia are India and Vietnam.
Cote d'Ivoire also presents handicrafts at the ongoing expo.
The minister in addition welcomed Chinese companies to do businesses in Cote d'Ivoire.
