Xi's visit significant to future of China-Senegal relation: Senegalese president

Senegalese President Macky Sall speaks during an interview in Dakar, Senegal, on July 19, 2018. Chinese President Xi Jinping's upcoming state visit to Senegal will be a historic one with great importance to the future of bilateral ties, said Senegalese President Macky Sall on Thursday. [Xinhua/Lv Shuai]

Senegalese President said Chinese President Xi Jinping's upcoming state visit to Senegal will be a historical one with great importance to the future of bilateral ties.

Senegalese president Macky Sall says he and his country are deeply honored to welcome president Xi Jinping on his visit, the first by a Chinese head of state in nine years. It is also the Chinese President's first visit to a West African country.

"We have a lot of significant expectations. We place them in the framework of the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership and the renewed partnership between China and Senegal. In the context of specific bilateral relations, the two governments will sign a series of agreements. We will also develop economic cooperation through various projects. Whether through aid projects or loan projects, we will let Senegalese people see China's role in implementing the Plan for an Emerging Senegal. China has already become an active participant in the plan. So I think this visit will be historic and of vital importance for our relations and our future prospects."

The Plan for an Emerging Senegal is a major development strategy put forward by President Sall.

It focuses on infrastructure development, human resources, sustainable development, peace and security.

The strategy aims to turn Senegal into an emerging country by 2035.

President Sall says that it is highly compatible with China's Belt and Road Initiative.

"I think the future of the world should be based on mutual cooperation, fair trade and a win-win partnership. We strongly agree with the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by China. The route along the ancient Silk Road will span the oceans and continents, connecting peoples around the world, especially those of China and Africa."

In this regard, Chinese ambassador Zhang Xun says that China's Belt and Road initiative will continue to improve infrastructure connectivity in Senegal and open new prospects for bilateral as well as China-Africa cooperation.

He adds key areas of BRI cooperation provide more options for the Senegalese development scheme.

"Senegal has increasingly embraced China's development concepts and expressed its hope to join the Belt and Road (B&R) Initiative. The two countries have broad consensus on reducing poverty. They are very interested in China's experience and achievement in reducing poverty. China's experience in governance and poverty reduction has won recognition in Senegal."

The ambassador notes that direct investment from China to Senegal totaled 110 million dollars, up 120 percent year on year in 2017.

He added that bilateral trade has been hovering around 2 billion dollars for three consecutive years, making China the second-largest trading partner of Senegal.

During the Chinese President's visit, the two countries are expected to sign a series of agreements on bilateral cooperation.

Zhang stresses that China and Senegal will further enhance economic ties and tap cooperation potential in new areas such as energy, tourism and aviation.