Chinese President Xi Jinping and Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye met in Beijing on Wednesday, agreeing to deepen mutual and multilateral cooperation and push their comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership to a new level.
President Faye is in Beijing for the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and a state visit. The meeting underscored the growing ties between China and Senegal, highlighting their shared commitment to development and modernization.
During the discussions, President Xi noted that China and Senegal are friends and partners on the road to national development and rejuvenation. “China is willing to work with Senegal to advance on our respective paths of modernization and push our comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership to a new level,” Xi said.
Emphasizing the importance of political mutual trust, Xi stated that both countries should continue to support each other on matters concerning their core interests and major concerns. He expressed China’s willingness to deepen cooperation with Senegal in various fields, including agriculture, industrialization, and new energy.
“China will continue to send agricultural technical experts, support Senegal’s construction of industrial parks, and expand cooperation in emerging fields, thus helping with Senegal’s industrialization and agricultural modernization,” Xi added.
President Xi highlighted the significance of multilateral cooperation, suggesting that China and Senegal work together to safeguard international fairness and justice and protect the common interests of developing countries. He emphasized FOCAC’s role as a flagship of South-South cooperation and expressed China’s commitment to working closely with Senegal to ensure the summit’s success.
President Faye conveyed his appreciation for China’s support and partnership. “It is a great honor to pay my first state visit to China and attend the upcoming FOCAC summit,” Faye said. He acknowledged the continuous progress in bilateral cooperation since establishing the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership in 2016, noting that multiple cooperation projects have promoted economic development and improved people’s livelihoods in Senegal.
Senegal firmly adheres to the one-China principle and opposes politicizing human rights issues, Faye stated. He expressed Senegal’s commitment to consolidating and deepening the friendship between the two countries.
“Senegal is willing to advance bilateral cooperation in fields including agriculture, industry, digitization, vocational training, and youth exchanges, and push our comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership to a higher level,” Faye said.
Highlighting FOCAC’s importance, Faye noted that it has made significant contributions to Africa’s economic and social development. He expressed Senegal’s willingness to work closely with China to ensure the upcoming summit’s success.
Faye also appreciated the global initiatives proposed by President Xi in recent years, acknowledging China’s commitment to promoting common development, fairness, and justice. He conveyed Senegal’s readiness to strengthen multilateral communication and coordination with China.
Reference(s):
Chinese, Senegalese presidents agree to push ties to new level
cgtn.com
