On the morning of December 20, 2023, President Xi Jinping had a phone call with Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega. The two heads of state announced the formal establishment of a strategic partnership between China and Nicaragua.

President Xi Jinping pointed out that two years ago, President Daniel Ortega and Vice President Rosario Murillo made the political decision to restore diplomatic relations with China. History will remember their important contributions to China-Nicaragua relations. Since the resumption of diplomatic relations two years ago, the two sides have worked with a great sense of urgency and achieved leapfrog development of China-Nicaragua relations. The two sides have firmly supported each other on issues involving each other's core interests and major concerns, and have comprehensively expanded practical cooperation with positive results. Xi Jinping expressed his readiness to work with President Daniel Ortega to take today's announcement of the establishment of China-Nicaragua strategic partnership as a new starting point to strive for new achievements in China-Nicaragua relations and set an example of solidarity, cooperation, mutual benefit and win-win results.

Xi Jinping stressed that the Chinese side highly appreciates Nicaragua's adherence to the one-China principle and its public support for China's effort in safeguarding sovereignty and territorial integrity on many occasions. China is ready to be a reliable friend of Nicaragua, and will continue to firmly support Nicaragua in safeguarding state independence and national dignity and opposing external interference. China is ready to strengthen exchanges of experience in governance and poverty eradication with Nicaragua. Noting the eight major steps he announced at the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation to support the joint pursuit of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, Xi Jinping said Nicaragua is welcome to synergize with those steps. The China-Nicaragua Free Trade Agreement, which will come into effect on January 1 next year, is a landmark cooperation achievement between the two countries. Both sides should take this opportunity to continuously upgrade the scale and level of bilateral trade. China encourages well-established Chinese enterprises to invest and do business in Nicaragua and carry out more cooperation projects that are needed by Nicaragua and helpful to Nicaragua's home-grown development, so as to bring more benefits to the Nicaraguan people. China is also ready to strengthen solidarity and coordination with Nicaragua in international affairs, to oppose hegemonism and power politics, work for a more just and equitable international order, and safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries.

Daniel Ortega said that under the outstanding leadership of President Xi Jinping, China has made remarkable achievements in development. It has not only lifted hundreds of millions of Chinese people out of poverty, but also made major contributions to promoting world peace, and, in particular, to helping people in developing countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America achieve shared development and improve well-being, bringing hope and injecting strength to the world. Ortega noted that he was honored to announce with President Xi Jinping the establishment of the Nicaragua-China strategic partnership on the occasion of the second anniversary of the resumption of diplomatic relations between the two countries, which will surely become an important milestone in the history of Nicaragua-China relations. The Nicaraguan side sincerely thanks China for supporting Nicaragua in safeguarding its sovereignty and independence and providing valuable assistance to Nicaragua in developing its economy and improving people's livelihood. Nicaragua highly values its friendly relations with its great brother China, firmly abides by the one-China principle, supports China's grand cause of reunification, and supports the global cooperation initiatives proposed by President Xi Jinping such as the Belt and Road initiative. Nicaragua is ready to work with China to continuously deepen bilateral friendly relations, strengthen multilateral coordination, oppose external interference and power politics, and jointly build a community with a shared future for mankind.

Daniel Ortega also conveyed the brotherly sympathies from the Nicaraguan people to Xi Jinping over the earthquake in Gansu. Xi Jinping expressed gratitude for this and pointed out that after the earthquake happened, he promptly issued instructions, urging all-out search and rescue efforts, proper shelters for people affected by the disaster, and the utmost effort to protect the lives and property of the people. He expressed the belief that under the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China and with the united efforts of the Chinese people, China will surely achieve victory in earthquake relief, and the people in the disaster-stricken areas will surely return to normal life and rebuild their homes at an early date.

After the phone call between the two heads of state, the two sides issued the Joint Statement on Establishing a Strategic Partnership between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Nicaragua.