On June 1, 2012, Tunisian Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali met with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, who is on an official visit to Tunisia.

Jebali said China has made admirable achievements in economic and social development. China's development is conducive to a more balanced international situation, and to safeguarding world peace. In the new situation, Tunisia attaches more importance to China's important role in the international affairs and the cooperation with China. The cooperation between the two countries has a strategic significance and is in line with the common interests of both sides, Jebali said.

Yang thanked Tunisia as host country for making important contribution to the success of the Fifth Ministerial Conference of the China- Arab Cooperation Forum. He said that both countries have a long history and share the same or similar views on democracy of international relations and other major issues. The traditional friendship between both sides enjoys a solid basis and their pragmatic cooperation is fruitful.

Yang said that the development of China-Tunisia cooperation is facing new opportunities and has broad prospects. The Chinese side supports Tunisia to play a greater role in international and regional affairs, and is willing to work with Tunisia to actively explore new ways of bilateral pragmatic cooperation, complement each other's advantages and achieve mutual benefit. He believed that the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries will be pushed to a new level and move towards a strategic partnership.