On February 20, 2014, Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with Senegalese President Macky Sall at the Great Hall of the People. The two heads of state had in-depth exchanges of views on the development of China-Senegal and China-Africa relations and decided to jointly build China-Senegal long-term friendly and cooperative partnership to promote China-Africa common development and prosperity.

Xi Jinping said that Senegal is an important country in Africa. Since the resumption of diplomatic relationship in 2005, China and Senegal have enjoyed healthy and stable development in bilateral relations and made remarkable achievements in practical cooperation. The Chinese side is willing to build a long-term friendly and cooperative partnership with the Senegalese side, making it a model for the relations between China and West African countries.

Xi Jinping put forward the following proposals:

First, to maintain the momentum of high-level engagement, promote non-governmental exchanges and people-to-people and cultural exchanges, enhance mutual understanding and trust, and firmly support each other on the issues concerning their core interests and major concerns.

Second, to enhance cooperation in economy and trade, transportation infrastructure construction and other fields. The Chinese side is willing to increase imports of Senegal’s agricultural products and carry out cooperation with the Senegalese side on plantation and processing. The Chinese side encourages more Chinese enterprises to invest and develop in Senegal and is willing to list Senegal as an overseas tourist destination for Chinese citizens.

Third, to enhance coordination and cooperation in international and regional affairs, safeguard the common interests of developing countries and strengthen their representation and voice in international affairs.

Sall said that Senegal-China cooperation features diversified forms and enjoys sound momentum. The Chinese side has helped the Senegalese side build a series of development projects and received warm welcome from the Senegalese people. The Senegalese side attaches strategic importance to China, pins high hopes on the friendly and cooperative partnership between the two countries, and hopes to deepen political mutual trust and expand cooperation with the Chinese side in energy, infrastructure construction, agricultural products, mineral products, communication, tourism and other fields, so as to promote Senegal’s economic and social progress and to strengthen its national governance capacity. The Senegalese side welcomes the Chinese side to establish Chinese cultural centers in Senegal at an early date.

Xi Jinping pointed out that China-Africa friendship develops even better after the wearing of time and expects great cooperation potential, and that the two sides form a community of shared destiny sharing the weal and woe. At present, Africa is seen with prosperous economic development and unflinching steps of self strengthening through unity. China is comprehensively deepening reforms and striving towards the realization of the “two centennial goals”. China-Africa relations are developing rapidly and comprehensively on a new historical starting point, with fruitful new results achieved in various fields of cooperation. China firmly supports African countries in their searching for development paths conforming to their own national conditions, and is willing to enhance the exchanges of experience with them on national governance, broaden mutual beneficial cooperation integrated with respective development goals, so as to promote common development and prosperity. In the cooperation with African countries, the Chinese side is willing to, in the light of their needs, highlights the concept of “teaching them how to fish” and helps them to “build nests to attract phoenix” so that they can achieve independent development and sustainable development. The Chinese side appreciates President Sall for his consistent speaking out on China-Africa cooperation and is willing to join hands with the Senegalese side to promote the development of a new model of China-Africa strategic partnership.

Sall said that African countries and China have always stood together unswervingly not only in the periods of struggling for national independence and liberation but also in today’s process of pushing forward the democratization of the international relationship. African countries are grateful for the valuable support China has offered over time. In the international community, China is the country giving the most assistance to Africa. African countries admire China’s development and wish China the realization of national rejuvenation at an early date. African countries are implementing the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD), striving to achieve regional security and stability, and promoting multinational and multiregional intercommunication and interconnection, so as to boost economic growth. African countries would like to learn from China’s successful experience and strengthen their cooperation with China, so as to realize Africa’s long-lasting peace and development.

After the talks, the two heads of state jointly witnessed the signing of China-Senegal Agreement on Governmental Economic and Technological Cooperation and other bilateral cooperation documents.

Prior to the talks, Xi Jinping held a welcoming ceremony for Sall at the North Hall of the Great Hall of the People. Mme. Peng Liyuan, wife of President Xi Jinping, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress Qiangba Puncog, State Councilor Yang Jiechi, Vice Chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference National Committee Ma Peihua and others attended the ceremony.