China issues over 8,000 visas to Burkina Faso citizens in major push for trade and industrial transfer

The figure was disclosed by China’s ambassador to Burkina Faso, Zhao Deyong, during a meeting with Prime Minister Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo on September 7.

The visas covered commercial activities, studies, training and professional missions in China, highlighting the growing movement of people between the two countries.

The latest engagement comes as Burkina Faso seeks to reshape its relationship with China around economic self-reliance and increased domestic production, rather than dependence on one-off assistance.

Ouédraogo told the Chinese ambassador that Burkina Faso wants cooperation to focus on strengthening its national production capacity, including access to productive equipment, technology transfer and skills development.

The government wants to use Chinese expertise in industrialisation, mechanisation and economic transformation to increase domestic production, process raw materials locally and reduce dependence on external sources.

Zhao said China would align its interventions with priorities set by the Burkinabè government and support the country’s pursuit of a development path suited to its national circumstances.

“China will support Burkina Faso in its search for a development path suited to its national realities, in order to achieve self-reliant development on the path to modernization and improve the well-being of its people,” Zhao said.

The two countries are already cooperating in agriculture, health, defence and technological infrastructure. Their relationship has also expanded since the restoration of diplomatic ties in May 2018, with both sides describing the partnership as strategic and based on mutual benefit and shared development.

The latest discussions also focused on accelerating existing agreements and support projects so they produce tangible results.

One example is the Pala University Hospital Center in Bobo-Dioulasso, inaugurated in December 2025 with Chinese support.

Burkina Faso has also been pursuing Chinese partnerships in productive industries, including agreements involving an agricultural processing facility, stone-based packaging and other supply arrangements.